Lagerqvist, Lars O.
Die Kraft der Tiere: Völkerwanderungszeitliche Goldhalskragen und die Grundsätze germanischer Kunst
Tiny golden animal figures, mixed creatures, human and divine figures: Around 450 AD, a sophisticated pictorial language circulated in northern Europe. Deciphering this code allows deep insights into a past that is often mysterious.
As exquisite pieces of jewellery of the highest quality, the three Swedish gold neck collars are technically and iconographically the top products of their time. Although they were found as early as the 19th century and have fascinated researchers and laymen alike ever since, this is the first major scholarly monograph with outstanding illustrative material on these "imperial jewels". The focus is on questions concerning their manufacture, their bearers and their purpose. Above all, however, the significance of the many hundreds of figurative miniatures is explained, thus opening up access to the imaginary worlds of the Germanic peoples in pre-Christian times.
