Style I
July 18, 2018
The Anatomy of Germanic Art
This article is a work in progress and will be updated.
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The Anatomy of Style I
c. 450 – 550
Shapes
1. Spirals and spiral patterns.
2. Striation/Hatching patterns.
3. Striated pellets for joints.
4. Heads in profile.
5. Heads facing forward.
6. Boat-shaped eyes.
7. Open mouth with long jaws and curling lips.
8. Short, downwards-curving mouth.
9. Crescent-shaped eyebrow-bow.
10. Almond-shaped hips.
11. Leaf-like feet with curved outlines.
12. Feet with toe-fronds.
13. Curling back-toes occur.
Outlines
Even outlines with slight tapering.
Flow
A mix of geometric and wavy curves.
A. S-shapes.
B. Single loops.
Pattern
- Very tight interlace with almost no visible background.
- Double contour occur.
- Single-stranded ribbons.
- Double-stranded ribbons.
- Multi-stranded ribbons.
- High relief.
- Ribbons are broken into panels by intersection.
- Only two line widths.
Composition
- Carpet-like distribution of motifs and shapes of equal size and equal compositional value (A, C).
- Geometric and zoomorphic framework (A).
- Compositions based on line-symmetry (A, B).
- Triskellion or swastika compositions of 3-fold and 4-fold rotational-symmetrical animal heads (D).
Motifs
- Geometric patterns (A, D).
- Four-legged animals (A, B).
- Animal Heads (A, D).
- Human figures (C).
Examples
Examples on Gelmir.com →
A list of examples with photos, info and links to sources.
Undateable
Animal-shaped brooch
Engegård Nord, Bornholm, Denmark.
Nationalmuseet, København, C35692.
Bowl
Vimose, Fyn, Denmark.
Nationalmuseet, København, 24452.
Buckle
Snartemo, Agder, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C26001/b.
Cup
Uppåkra, Skåne, Sweden.
Historiska museet vid Lunds universitet.
Drinking Horn Mounts
Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England.
The British Museum, London, 1883,1214.19.
Glass Cup
Snartemo, Agder, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C26001/v.
Radiate-headed Brooch
Dalshøj, Bornholm, Denmark.
Nationalmuseet, København, DNF 1/51.
Square-headed Brooch — Bratsberg
Bratsberg, Telemark, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C26566.
Square-headed Brooch — Falkum
Falkum, Telemark, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C21856/b.I.
Square-headed Brooch — Fonnås
Fonnås, Innlandet, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C8154.
Square-headed Brooch — Hove Mølle
Hove Mølle, Sjælland, Denmark.
Nationalmuseet, København, 10739.
Square-headed Brooch — Kvåle
Kvåle, Vestland, Norway.
Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, Bergen, B6516
Square-headed Brooch — Lunde
Lunde, Agder, Norway.
Universitetsmuseet i Bergen, Bergen, B3543.
Square-headed Brooch — Lundbjers
Lundbjers, Gotland, Sweden.
Gotlands Museum, Visby, GFC7182.
Square-headed Brooch — Søtvet
Søtvet, Vestfold, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C9441.
Sword — Snartemo, C28026
Snartemo, Agder, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C28026/a.
Sword — Snartemo, C26001
Snartemo, Agder, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C26001.