Historic Ornament, Vol. 1 (of 2): Treatise on decorative art and architectural ornament — John Shaqi
Historic Ornament, Vol. 1 (of 2): Treatise on decorative art and architectural ornamentWard, James
History
Historic Ornament, Vol. 1 (of 2): Treatise on decorative art and architectural ornament
Ward, James
Architecture -- History; Decoration and ornament -- History; Decorative arts -- History
The illustrations of the golden bracteates here given (Figs. 63, 64)
partly show how this development began. On Fig. 63 is Thor’s head with
his tiara or helmet, the he-goat sacred to Thor, the triad three dots,
and the swastika. On the border is the triskele (Odin’s sign), Frey’s
cross, and the zigzag or lightning.
[Illustration: Fig. 64.—Golden Bracteate from Scandinavia. (_Danish
Arts._)]
The larger bracteate (Fig. 64) has Thor with the he-goat surrounded by
the swastika, triskele, and the cross (four suns forming the cross), the
signs for Thor, Odin, and Frey. The inner border has the three dots, or
triad; next border, Thor’s head; and the outer border is composed of
he-goats. On the loop are signs of the sun and moon, and under it
sun-snakes (developed into spirals). The above descriptions of the
bracteates are chiefly taken from the “Danish Arts.”
[Illustration: Fig. 65.—Parts of Harness in Gilt Bronze, Gotland.
(_Scand. Arts._)]
Characteristic ornament of this period is shown at Fig. 65, which are
parts of a harness in gilt bronze from a tomb in Gotland; the patterns
are composed of corrupted animal and bird forms.
[Illustration: Fig. 66.—Fibula in Gilt Bronze, Gotland. (_Scand.
Arts._)]
[Illustration: Fig. 67.—Fibula in Gilt Bronze, Gotland. (_Scand.
Arts._)]
Figs. 66 to 68 are fibula decorations of the interlacing animal forms,
which are characteristic of the more attenuated and later development of
Scandinavian art.
[Illustration: Fig. 68.—Part of Rim of Fig. 67.]
The series of designs, Figs. 69 to 73, are of great interest in showing
the development of patterns from lion forms to the twisted snake
ornament. The figures are taken from Hildebrand’s “Scandinavian Arts.”
According to that author, Fig. 69 is a Scandinavian copy or adaptation
of a Roman design, which consists of two lions _couchant_. The other
patterns (Figs. 70 to 73) are further developments of corrupted lion
forms. It is quite possible that the peculiar interlacings of
Scandinavian ornament may have been the result of imperfect copying of
lion and bird forms. They were never intended for snake forms, as many
of these have legs and feet, and serpents and snakes were unknown in the
north. Many stranger derivatives of ornament have existed in the
ornament of savage tribes.[A] When the Gotlandic artist had reduced his
lion forms to snakes he carried his work to the verge of monotony with
interminable interlacings.
Footnote A:
See Haddon’s “Evolution of Ornamental Art,” 1895.
[Illustration: Fig. 69.]
[Illustration: Fig. 70.]
Figs. 69 and 70.—Corrupted Figures of Lions. (_Scand. Arts._)
[Illustration: Fig. 71.]
[Illustration: Fig. 72.]
[Illustration: Fig. 73.]
Figs. 71, 72, 73.—Animal Ornamental Patterns, Corrupted Figures of
Lions. (_Scand. Arts._)
[Illustration:
Fig. 74.—Silver Goblet, with Gold-plated Decoration, found in Zeeland.
(_Danish Arts._)
]
[Illustration: Fig. 75.—Under Side of a Fibula. (_Scand. Arts._)]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account