[The illustration for this entry is Fig.14-4,page 428, Hinged clasp from the Sutton Hoo Burial ship]
This example of Scandinavian jewelry is one I would love to hold in my hands and study with my eyes. It's a beautiful design from an obvious master. Transparent garnets, millefiori glass, granulations, and precise geometric shapes combine in a stunning creation. Only 5" in length, it is an archeological discovery that illustrated the wealth of the man in the burial mound at Sutton Hoo. There were even items interred to assist in the afterlife and a Byzantine silver bowl testified to ancient trade routes. The stylized animal forms are incredibly small measurements that have symmetrical aspects in the piece as a whole.
Research states that this is the only Anglo-Saxon clasp known, which was connected to a piece of armor that covered the front of the torso. I wonder what kind of life this noble man lived. I wonder of his development in ancient cultures, his relationship to religious structures then, and how he survived year by year, season by season. Was it a fulfilling lifestyle? Did it have meaning; was it a life well lived? This clasp is a miraculous discovery and hopefully, future treasure hunters may find even more artifacts that give art history life.
So what are your thoughts on this piece? Do you like the geometrically cut glass? Or are your eyes drawn to the more organic shapes?
ReplyDeleteI love all the different colors used and how the piece shines. I also really like that it's symmetrical, as you stated (aside from that pin of course). It's a very nice piece and of great value considering it's the only one found.
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