Style II B
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 II B
c. 550 – 650
Shapes
1. Spirals.
2. Animal-heads in profile.
3. Human-heads facing forward (inside hips).
4. Eyebrow-bow framing the eye.
5. Round Eyes.
6. Long straight or curling jaws.
7. Teeth occur.
8. Pointy chin.
9. Head-lappet
10. Almond-shaped hips.
11. Feather-like feet.
12. Curling back-toe.
Outlines
Even outlines without tapering or indents.
Flow
A preference for geometric curves.
A. S-shapes.
B. Single loops.
C. Figure-of-eights loops.
Pattern
- Tight interlace with little visible background.
- Single-stranded ribbons.
- Double-stranded ribbons.
- Triple-stranded ribbons.
- Even fabric-like interlace patterns.
Composition
- Clear and simple compositions of animal and human figures juxtaposed with geometry and occasional interlacing patterns.
- Compositions based on line-symmetrical and/or 2-fold rotational-symmetrical S-shapes (A, D).
- Triskellion or swastika compositions of 3-fold and 4-fold rotational-symmetrical animal heads (D).
Motifs
- S-shaped ribbon animals (A, D).
- Animal heads (A, C).
- Four-legged animals resembling boars and wolves (A, C, D).
- Birds of prey (A, B).
- Human faces (B, D).
Examples
Examples on Gelmir.com →
A list of examples with photos, info and links to sources.
Undateable
Animal-shaped buckle — Eura
Eura, Satakunta, Finland.
Kansallismuseo, Helsinki, KM8811:1.
Animal-shaped buckle — Leväluhta
Leväluhta, Etelä-Pohjanmaan, Finland.
Kansallismuseo, Helsinki, KM2441:3.
Photo: Museovirasto (CC BY).
Animal-shaped buckle — Gulldynt
Gulldynt, Pohjanmaa, Finland.
Kansallismuseo, Helsinki, KM8562:1.
Animal-shaped sword pommel
Vesalihati, Pirkanmaa, Finland.
Kansallismuseo, Helsinki, KM 3005:6.
Animal-shaped sword pommel
Gulldynt, Pohjanmaa, Finland.
Kansallismuseo, Helsinki, KM1911:1.
Belt buckle — Åker
Åker, Innlandet, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C4901.
Belt buckle — Åker
Åker, Innlandet, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C21406.
Belt buckle — Sutton Hoo
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.
The British Museum, London, 1939,1010.1.
Bird-shaped brooch — Foss Nordre
Foss Nordre, Viken, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C61472.
Bird-shaped brooch — Gaalaas
Gaalaas, Innlandet, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C61471.
Bowl
Vimose, Fyn, Denmark.
Nationalmuseet, København, 24452.
Brooch
Reinstrup, Sjælland, Denmark.
Nationalmuseet, København, DNF4/18.
Buckles
King’s Field, Kent, England.
The British Museum, London, .1094.’70.
Harness mount — Vallstenarum
Vallstenarum, Gotland, Sweden.
Historiska Museet, Stockholm, 362428.
Harness mounts — Sutton Hoo
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.
The British Museum, London, 1991,0411.2871.a-d; 1991,0411.2877; 1991,0411.2880.a; 1991,0411.2880.b; 1991,0411.2881.a; 1991,0411.2881.b; 1991,0411.2882.a; 1991,0411.2882.b; 1991,0411.2885; 1991,0411.2886.c; 1991,0411.2887; 1991,0411.2888.b.
Harness mount — Vendel, 971412
Vendel, Uppland, Sweden.
Historiska Museet, Stockholm, 971412.
Harness mounts — Vendel, 273531
Vendel, Uppland, Sweden.
Historiska Museet, Stockholm, 273531.
Mount
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.
The British Museum, London, 1991,0411.2203.
S-shaped brooch
Englerupgård, Sjælland, Denmark.
Nationalmuseet, København, C36406.
Shield mount — Rolex
Rolex, Gotland, Sweden.
Gotlands Museum, Visby, GFC3641.
Shield mounts
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.
The British Museum, London, 1939,1010.94.
Shield mount — Åker
Åker, Innlandet, Norway.
Kulturhistorisk Museum, Oslo, C4903.
Shoulder clasps
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.
The British Museum, London, 1939,1010.4; 1939,1010.5.
Sword — Sutton Hoo
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England.
The British Museum, London, 1939,1010.25; 1939,1010.27; 1939,1010.28; 1939,1010.29; 1939,1010.95.
Sword — Ultuna
Ultuna, Uppland, Sweden.
Historiska Museet, Stockholm, 265030.
Sword — Vendel, 122961
Vendel, Uppland, Sweden.
Historiska Museet, Stockholm, 122961.
Sword — Vendel, 264442
Vendel, Uppland, Sweden.
Historiska Museet, Stockholm, 264442.