Book or Shrine, Cumdach of the Stowe Missal
Unknown Artist
early 20th century (original dated 1025–52)
Medium
Wood, brass, silver gilt, glass cabochons
Dimensions
Overall: 7 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 2 7/8 in. (19.1 x 16.5 x 7.3 cm)
Classification
Reproductions-Metalwork
Culture
Irish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1911
Accession Number
12.4.12
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Cumdach of theowe Missal*, a early 20th-century reproduction of an 11th-century Irish book shrine, crafted to protect the sacred Stowe Missal—a liturgical manuscript from around 800 AD. Dating originally to 1025–52, these cumdachs were ornate metal cases designed as reliquaries for precious Gospel books or missals, symbolizing their spiritual power in medieval Ireland. This piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval collection, evokes the devotion of early Christian monks who safeguarded holy texts amid Viking raids and turbulent times. Masterfully reproduced in wood,...