Design and Techniques in Early Medieval Celtic Metalwork
Published on 23. May 2024
Book
Hardback
648 pages
978-1-904597-33-9 (ISBN)
Description
Niamh Whitfield is a leading authority on the metalwork of early Medieval Ireland and Scotland . Celtic metalwork of the seventh to twelfth centuries is extremely accomplished technically, and she has aimed at a thorough understanding of its manufacture. She has also been concerned to place Early Medieval Celtic design in its European context, and to analyse its relationship with Anglo-Saxon and continental work, as well as its debt to traditions which ultimately originated in the Classical world.
Dr Whitfield has written about subjects as diverse as the origins of the gold used in early Medieval Ireland and Scotland, the development of animal ornament and geometrical principles of design. Her archival studies have succeeded in identifying the find-spot of the celebrated 'Tara' brooch and in documenting panels of ornament which are now missing. In addition, she has explored early Irish texts for attitudes to jewellery and clothing, considered the brooch as an emblem of status, looked at how brooches were worn, and whether descriptions of clothing and accessories in an early Irish saga provide an accurate description of contemporary finery.
Dr Whitfield has written about subjects as diverse as the origins of the gold used in early Medieval Ireland and Scotland, the development of animal ornament and geometrical principles of design. Her archival studies have succeeded in identifying the find-spot of the celebrated 'Tara' brooch and in documenting panels of ornament which are now missing. In addition, she has explored early Irish texts for attitudes to jewellery and clothing, considered the brooch as an emblem of status, looked at how brooches were worn, and whether descriptions of clothing and accessories in an early Irish saga provide an accurate description of contemporary finery.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
243 illus.
Dimensions
Height: 249 mm
Width: 181 mm
Thickness: 47 mm
Weight
1794 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-904597-33-9 (9781904597339)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Niamh Whitfield, an expert in Early Medieval Celtic metalwork in Ireland and Scotland (7th-12th centuries), focuses on technical excellence, contextualising Celtic design in Europe, and its links to Anglo-Saxon and classical traditions. Her work covers topics like gold origins, animal ornament, and geometric design. Dr. Whitfield's archival research located the 'Tara' brooch and documented missing ornament panels. She delves into early Irish texts regarding jewellery, brooches as status symbols, their wearing styles, and the accuracy of clothing descriptions in sagas.
Content
Preface
GOLD SOURCES AND WORKSHOP TECHNOLOGY
Some new research on gold and gold filigree from early Medieval Ireland and Scotland
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF INSULAR FILIGREE AND ANIMAL ORNAMENT
Motifs and techniques of Celtic filigree: are they original?
Motifs and techniques in Early Medieval Celtic filigree: their ultimate origins
Formal conventions in the depiction of animals on Celtic metalwork
A mount with Hiberno-Saxon chipcarved animal ornament from Rerrick, near Dundrennan, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
The earliest filigree from Ireland
BROOCHES
The original appearance of the Tara brooch
The 'Tara' brooch: an Irish emblem of status in its European context
More thoughts on the wearing of brooches in Early Medieval Ireland
Corinthian bronze on the 'Tara' brooch?
The filigree of the Hunterston and 'Tara' brooches
Hunterston/'Tara' type brooches reconsidered
The Waterford kite-brooch and its place in Irish metalwork
A Viking-age brooch fragment from recent excavations at Temple Bar West, Dublin
ICONOGRAPHY
Brooch or Cross: The lozenge on the shoulder of the Book of Kells Virgin
The iconography of the Ardagh chalice
REGALIA AND EARLY IRISH LITERATURE
Aristocratic display in Early Medieval Ireland in fiction and in fact: the dazzling white tunic and purple cloak
Some Comments on the Terminology of Metalwork in Old Irish
?Index
GOLD SOURCES AND WORKSHOP TECHNOLOGY
Some new research on gold and gold filigree from early Medieval Ireland and Scotland
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF INSULAR FILIGREE AND ANIMAL ORNAMENT
Motifs and techniques of Celtic filigree: are they original?
Motifs and techniques in Early Medieval Celtic filigree: their ultimate origins
Formal conventions in the depiction of animals on Celtic metalwork
A mount with Hiberno-Saxon chipcarved animal ornament from Rerrick, near Dundrennan, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
The earliest filigree from Ireland
BROOCHES
The original appearance of the Tara brooch
The 'Tara' brooch: an Irish emblem of status in its European context
More thoughts on the wearing of brooches in Early Medieval Ireland
Corinthian bronze on the 'Tara' brooch?
The filigree of the Hunterston and 'Tara' brooches
Hunterston/'Tara' type brooches reconsidered
The Waterford kite-brooch and its place in Irish metalwork
A Viking-age brooch fragment from recent excavations at Temple Bar West, Dublin
ICONOGRAPHY
Brooch or Cross: The lozenge on the shoulder of the Book of Kells Virgin
The iconography of the Ardagh chalice
REGALIA AND EARLY IRISH LITERATURE
Aristocratic display in Early Medieval Ireland in fiction and in fact: the dazzling white tunic and purple cloak
Some Comments on the Terminology of Metalwork in Old Irish
?Index