The Art of the Anglo Saxon Goldsmith: Fine Metalwork in Anglo Saxon England: Its Practice and Practitioners

by Elizabeth Coatsworth, Michael Pinder

Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period, goldsmiths produced work of a high standard in both design and craftsmanship, both for personal adornment, and to embellish bookbindings, reliquaries, vessels and weapons. Some works are well known, particularly the magnificent gold and garnet regalia from Sutton Hoo, but this represents only a fraction even of the surviving work, and much more has been lost. This book is the first to look at the goldsmiths' products through the eyes of both a specialist in the period and a practical craftsman, combining close examination of the surface and structure of the objects with analysis of inscriptions and evidence for design, and with literary and visual sources of evidence for smiths and their work. Archaeological and documentary evidence for workshops, tools and working processes is also assessed, and up-to-date technical information on materials and techniques is juxtaposed with new practical research to throw light on manufacturing and decorative processes, and, more widely, to give a fresh idea of the position of the goldsmith in his society. Dr ELIZABETH COATSWORTH is Senior Lecturer in the Department of History of Art and Design, Manchester Metropolitan University; Dr MICHAEL PINDER is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture, Landscape and 3DD, at the same university.

Genres: Archaeology, History, Art

318 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2012

Reviews

[Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work. If you are interested in the tools, techniques or social status of goldsmiths you MUST read this book. A few highlights. First, it points out that, especially earlier in the period, a goldsmith probably worked in many metals and media. It does a superb job of reviewing the types of tools known from that period as well as pointing out which have no record. It has indepth coverage of techniques as we can determine them from the extant pieces. The book covers the role of goldsmiths/metalsmiths in the religious and mythical stories of the period. And it discusses what (few) references we have to actual Smiths. Finally, there is 10 pages of vocabulary of Saxon, Latin and modern English words related to the craft.

If you are interested in one of the most beautiful crafts of the Saxon period I cannot recommend this book high enough. And if you do any kind of living history or re-enactment of the period as a smith you have to read this to expand the depth and breadth of your persona.

[Frederic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, authoritative work on Anglo-Saxon jewelry. Do be aware that this is a scholarly study not a picture-book – there are good photos, but they're there to serve the analysis not to show pretty pieces of jewlery!