Early Medieval Animal Art

  • Period: Jan 1, 600 to Dec 31, 1000

    Time of Art

  • Jan 21, 600

    Introduction to 7th Century Art

    7th century art includes the art of the Migration Period. During this time the Germanic people began to dispurse throughout Europe as they were pushed back by the Huns. Although these were not homogenous tribes, their cultures were very similar.
    The art in this time is by the Anglo-Saxons and Celtics. During this time, animals, usually serpants, had very little detail. They were often on tools that were by the vikings and other other people groups, such as found in the Sutton Hoo.
  • Jan 1, 601

    7th Century:Sutton Hoo Purse Lid

    7th Century:Sutton Hoo Purse Lid
    The snakes in this art piece are woven together and intertwined, a typical characteristic of Style I art pieces.
  • Dec 21, 601

    7th Century: Permic Bear

    7th Century: Permic Bear
    This Permic Bear is dated to the 7th century. During the Style I of Animal art, chip carving was introduced to bronze and silver (beginning in the 5th century). Animals, such as this bear, were also broken down into section.This bear has a head, front paws and his hind paws attach directly to his back. He is broken down into three unrealistic sections, all with minimal detail.
  • Jan 21, 700

    Introduction to 8th Century Art

    During this time, Style III of the anamalistic styel began to be evident. Animals were often shown as "gripping", being that they were touching or connected to the other subjects in the art piece. Since this was the main art of the vikings, this also became known as Viking Art. Serpants and symmetry remained important parts of the art pieces, along with simplicity.
  • Dec 21, 700

    8th Century: Gripping Animals

    8th Century: Gripping Animals
    In this piece, the animal is connected to the other subjects in the art piece, or "gripping" them.
  • Dec 21, 701

    8th Century: Gripping Brooch

    8th Century: Gripping Brooch
    Once again, the animalist figures are very simple and seem are touching, "gripping", each other.
  • Jan 21, 1000

    Introduction to 11th Century art

    In this century, the trend continues of the previous century of the animals becomming more realistic. The birds are very easy to recognize. The animals also continue to be symmetrical and to grip each other. The animal subjects also include birds.
  • Dec 21, 1000

    11th Century: A Combination Cross

    11th Century: A Combination Cross
    The cross is a combination of many of the previous styles. The images are symetrical on their respectice sides (top symmetical top bottom, left symmetrical to right). The animals in the left and right boxes of the cross are also "gripping" the boxes around them. The animals are also more realistic and easy to identify as horses. Finally, the top and bottom of the corsses, although vines, also intertwine.
  • Dec 21, 1001

    11th Century: Animals

    11th Century: Animals
    Similar to the cross, this piece is like a combination of many of the previous art pieces. The animals, especially the birds, are easy to identify. Even though the piece is a circle, the left and right are symmetrical at the point of the birds. The animal characters are also intertwined with each other.
  • 9th Century: Dragan Brooch

    9th Century: Dragan Brooch
    This brooch is symetrical, but yet barely resembles animals. Created on a viking tool.
  • 9th Century: Serpant Brooch

    9th Century: Serpant Brooch
    Once again, the piece is symetrical, but has very little detail that resembles it to animal. Also on a viking work piece.
  • 10th Century Art: Symetrical Horse

    10th Century Art: Symetrical Horse
    This horse horse is symetrical, and more realistic (it's easier to identify as a horse) than the previous animals on the time line. These horses also have artistic detail: the circles that go down the horses neck. The eyes and noses are also detailed.
  • 10th Century: Monkeys

    10th Century: Monkeys
    As with the horse, these monkey's are easy to recognize and they're not intertwined. They are also symetrical.
  • 9th Century Art

    The 9th century continued the art styles of the previous two centuries. The pieces continued to be made out of metals, contain snakes, be symmetrical and the details on the animals continued to be minimal. For example, with the snakes that are shown, the detail on the snakes faces are minimal, there eyes are hard to define. Granted, this could be because the pieces are very old. The snakes also connect, continuing the "gripping" and intertwined style.
  • 10th Century Art Introduction

    During this century, the animals become more realistic. There is also more detail in the art pieces: the animals have faces and are not connected to one another. However, the pieces do remain symmetrical.