Iconography and Metal-Smithing Techniques
With 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
th
4
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 Connections
 The Golden age Celts also revered the wolf as a power
animal in nature
 http://www.bellchamber.net/catalogue/rings/four_wo
lfhounds.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 famillairs
 Odin – Has a pair of Ravens - Hugin and Mugin
 Celtic 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 Techniques
 The 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 Making
 Modern 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