hoard of bridle-bits, terret-rings, and other objects undoubtedly belonging to harness, discovered in a moss at Middlebie in Annandale in 1737, and now in the National Museum in Edinburgh. Another find, which resembles the last in many particulars, is that of Stanwick already cited. In both there were decorated bridle-bits of the peculiar Celtic character that appeared at Rise, one ring being more highly ornamented than the other,—a want of uniformity which has been interpreted as indicating that the bits were designed for use by a charioteer; in driving a pair of horses, the more decorative ring would be worn on the outside, and fully exposed to view. Further, in both finds the bits are associated with the same terret-rings and trappings. At Stanwick, however, and perhaps in a measure also at Middlebie, the objects analogous to Figs. 1 and 3 are of finer and lighter workmanship. Although Fig. 11 has been included in Plate LXXV. as possibly a Celtic product, its origin is less obvious than that of the other pieces beside it. It was found in Pit LIX in association with early pottery. It is of bronze, and was evidently employed in much the same way as the smaller petal-shaped loops (Figs. 7 and 8). A strong loop is attached to the centre of the back, as though for the purpose of insertion in a strap, the decorated triangular portion serving to prevent the whole from being displaced. On the upper surface are six settings, which were probably filled with coral or enamel, though no trace of anything of the sort remains.
Along with these pieces of harness-mounting, we have grouped an object which is no less surely a product of Celtic Art (Fig. 5). This is a plate of thin brass 4½ inches by 1½ inches with embossed ornament. When found, it was doubled up. It is furnished with holes through which it was probably fastened by studs to some wooden surface. The design is divided into two panels. In the centre of each is a rosette closely resembling those which decorate the Balmaclellan mirror.[1] The rosettes are enclosed by curved stems terminating in a point such as one might see in a branch cut diagonally, with a piece of torn bark adhering to it. Midway in each of the curves is a thickening and a break, as though the stem had been snapped in bending. This is the feature which, slightly more developed, becomes the characteristic projections of the terret-ring. The whole treatment makes it clear that the design had its origin in the study of plant forms. The difference that is left between the two panels is characteristic of early work; the modern craftsman would have balanced them equally. To judge from the pottery with which
1 Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol vii. p. 349.
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