Style II D
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 D
c. 700 – 775
Shapes
1. Lappets with double- or triple-tendril frond terminals.
2. Angled transition between neck and body ribbon occur.
3. Head in profile.
4. Round Eyes.
5. Oval and Boat-shaped Eyes.
6. Short open frond-like jaws.
7. Downward-curving and closed beak-like jaws.
8. Pointy chin.
9. Head-lappets occur.
10. Almond shaped hips with a free-floating sphere in the centre.
11. Feather-like feet with toe-fronds.
12. Open leaf-like feet with curved outlines.
13. Curling back-toes occur.
Outlines
Even outlines without tapering or indents.
Flow
A preference for even and geometric curves.
A. S-shapes.
B. Single loops.
C. Pretzel-knots.
D. Triquetra-knots.
Pattern
- Semi-open interlace with some visible background.
- Single-stranded ribbons.
- Double-stranded ribbons.
- Triple-stranded ribbons.
Composition
- An absence of main compositional lines (A, B, D).
- Compositions based on line-symmetrical S-shapes (A, B).
- Larger single animals in profile with lesser interlacing S-shaped ribbon-animal (D).
- Triskellion or swastika compositions of 3-fold and 4-fold rotational-symmetrical animal heads (C).
Motifs
- S-shaped ribbon animals (A, B, D).
- Four-legged animals (A, B, C, D).
- Birds of prey (D).