Vendel sword hilt from Norway. Hilt is repoussé Early 6th c. A.D. The gold plate grips and silver gilt mount at the mouth of the scabbard are in Style I.

Animal style (also known as Zoomorphic style) is a type of imagery used in Northern Europe during the ancient and medieval periods, characterized by animals or animal-like forms arranged in intricate patterns or combats. Animal Style Art consists of intricate, ribbonlike traceries of line that suggest wild and fantastic beasts. The animal style was used in England, Scandinavia, Germany, France and Russia. Image File history File links Sword. ... Image File history File links Sword. ... Ohtheres mound Vendel is a parish in the Swedish province of Uppland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Northern Europe is marked in dark blue Northern Europe is a name of the northern part of the European continent. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. ...

Classifications

The study of zoomorphic decorations was pioneered by Bernhard Salin in the early 20th century. He classified animal art of the 400-900 period into three phases: Scandinavian styles I, II and III.

Animal Style is believed to be invented by the Mesopotamians, as exhibited in the wooden panels from the Great Bull Lyre from Iraq (2,685 B.C.). (http://www.morganlibrary.org/exhibitions/exhibPast01.asp?id=81)

Style I. First appears in northwest Europe, probably originating from the traditions of nomadic Asiatic steppes peoples, it became a noticeable new style with the introduction of chip carving applied to bronze and silver in the 5th century. Characterized by animals in the margins of works that are twisted, exaggerated, surreal, fragmented body parts filling every available space, creating an intense detailed energetic feel. It can be clearly seen in the Norwegian Vendel sword hilt from Grave V, Snartemo Hägebostad, Vest Agder, Norway (see picture). Also in this fibula (picture) from Öland Island, ca. 400-450 A.D. Chip carving is a form of wood carving. ... Vendel sword hilt from the Snartemo III grave in southern Norway. ...

Style II. After about 600 Style I was in decline and Salin's Style II rose in popularity. Displacing the surreal and fragmented animals of Style I, Style II's animals are whole beasts, elongated and intertwined into symmetrical shapes. Thus two bears are facing each other in perfect symmetry ("confronted"), forming the shape of a heart. Examples of Style II can be found on the gold purse lid (picture) from Sutton Hoo (ca. 625). Sutton Hoo parade helmet (British Museum, restored). ...

Style III. {incomplete}

Insular art

Animal style was one component, along with Celtic art and late classical elements, in the formation of style of Insular art and Anglo-Saxon art in the British Isles, and through these routes and others on the Continent, left a considerable legacy in later Medieval art. Muiredacha Cross. ... This page (folio 292r) of the Book of Kells contains the lavishly decorated text that opens the Gospel of John. ... A map showing the general locations of the major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms The Anglo-Saxons were a group of Germanic tribes from Angeln, a peninsula in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, protruding into the Baltic Sea, and what is now Lower Saxony in Northern Germany, who achieved dominance in southern Britain from...

A Scythian tattoo.

Image File history File links Scythian_tatoo. ... Image File history File links Scythian_tatoo. ...

See also

• Migration Period art

Gravegoods from various North French and Rhineland sites, up to the 6th c. ...

Notes

External links

• Perm Animal Style
• http://www.morganlibrary.org/exhibitions/exhibPast01.asp?id=81