Anglo Saxon and Celtic Jewellery

Iconography and Metal-Smithing TechniquesWith Jason N. Bellchamber

Saxon Wolf Symbolism The wolf was often an inspiration for names

in Anglo-Saxon England.

Bardawulf (Bright Wolf)Randwulf (Shield Wolf)Wulfric (Wolf Power/Ruler) Æthelwulf Wuffa And of course Beowulf

Staffordshire “Sword” Seax Hilt

Cultural Connections In the 4th century as Rome withdrew from Britain

they utilized Angles, Jutes and Saxons as bodyguards.

The Romans capitalized on their cultural

similarity of wolf idolizing - Romulous and Remus and the Saxons kinship to the wolf when they used them as hired mercenaries and soldiers in Europe.

Suffolk Bracteate 4th Century

Roman and Saxon Icons Mixed“This early and unique bracteate was a stray find

made by a farmer in Suffolk. The figural images were adapted from a Late Roman Urbs Roma coin of a type issued by Constantine the Great between AD 330 and 335. The coins have a helmeted head of the emperor on the obverse and Romulus and Remus being suckled by a wolf on the reverse, which the maker of this bracteate has conflated. Such coins were widely circulated and the artist must have copied an heirloom.”-British Musuem

Celtic ConnectionsThe Golden age Celts also revered the wolf as

a power animal in naturehttp://www.bellchamber.net/catalogue/rings/f

our_wolfhounds.htm

The icon of the lion was first represented by a wolf in the book of Lindisfarne an 8th century gospel book (Saxon Hiberno/Celtic)

Celtic Wolf Motifs

Other Similar Icons

Ravens – always found in Pairs. Lugh – Irish sun gods famillairsOdin – Has a pair of Ravens - Hugin and

MuginCeltic Knotwork (aka Interlace) may have

been inspired by simple Saxon interlace. Celtic Interlace is developed in the 6th and 7th century by Pictish Stone carvers in Scotland producing Celtic Crosses under the influence of : St.Columba of Ireland, the Saxons of York and Glasgow.

Metalsmithing TechniquesThe Saxons already utilized Bronzesmithing

and Blacksmithing techniques to make weapons and armour. These include casting and forging of Iron or Bronze.

Weapons would have been made by pouring

molten metal into ingots (dies) and then hammered on anvils into different shapes (sword, seax, spear, arrowhead) and polished and sharpened with hand tools such as files or burnishers.

Jewellery MakingModern goldsmithing techniques haven't

changed much when it involves handmaking gold or silver work.

Techniques include: Lost wax casting, Reposse (Pushing the design from behind on a foil plate), Intaglio (using acid to etch a design into the surface of the metal), Hand Engraving with a steel point and Welding with a flame.

Pairing or combining these techniques can create a very pleasing work.

Modern Recreation

Modern Recreation Celtic Wolf

Staffordshire Wolf

Suffolk Bracteate