Double Headed Animal Ornament in Style II C

S-shaped ribbon ornament with two animal head terminals biting their own ribbon body. A motif which was typical for style II C.

 

In style II C the mouths of the animals are always beak-like and extruded and often distinguished from the head itself by a curved outline. The mouths are typically either curving downward like a beak or extruded straightforward with the upper and lower lips or ends of the jaws pointing in opposite directions (as in this illustration).

 

This type of motif is found throughout Scandinavia but especially prevalent in the eastern regions.

 

Check out the article on Style II C here:

The Anatomy of Germanic Art: Style II C