An introduction to the study of prehistoric art . beneath the debris which filled it, wererevealed two brottse gilt biooches, which must be reckonedamong the most remarkable objects of the kind which haveever been discovered,and the larger of thetwo of its kind is prob-ably the most fantastic-ally beautiful creationthat has come downto us from antiquity^(Fig. 310). Afterpoint-inof out how it differsfrom Roman fibula; byits great size, its excel-lent gilding, and inbeing ornamented witha succession of exquisitedesigns of Keltic scroll-work in relief, instead offormal decorative A. J. E
An introduction to the study of prehistoric art . beneath the debris which filled it, wererevealed two brottse gilt biooches, which must be reckonedamong the most remarkable objects of the kind which haveever been discovered,and the larger of thetwo of its kind is prob-ably the most fantastic-ally beautiful creationthat has come downto us from antiquity^(Fig. 310). Afterpoint-inof out how it differsfrom Roman fibula; byits great size, its excel-lent gilding, and inbeing ornamented witha succession of exquisitedesigns of Keltic scroll-work in relief, instead offormal decorative A. J. Evans saysits Keltic characterreached a measure offreedom and originality which places it almostquite alone among re-lics found in ImperialBritain durino; the cen-turies of Roman do-minion . . here wehave aspecimen of truly flamboyant decoration. The best explanation of thestriking Late Keltic decoration on these brooches is that iSir A. J. Evans in Archceologia, Lv., p. 179, where he gives a fulland most interesting description of the Fig. 310.—Bronze-gilt brooch. Aesica,Northumberland. (Natural size.) 312 PREHISTORIC ART they were made in Caledonia beyond the pale of Romanpower, where the Keltic artist was still able to foster anddevelop his genius untrammelled by the Southern presence at Aesica may be accounted for withoutmuch difficulty. They may well have been part of thebooty of some Roman soldier during a campaign in thefar north, who on his return was quartered at this fort. On the Aesica brooch, as on those from Backworth,there will be noticed at the back a ring or loop. This
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidintroduction, bookyear1915
