> ><< I also don't regard the interlace as indigenous, because it shows up in
> >too
> > many other places. >>
> >
> >I don't recall interlacing as an artistic feature outside of the Ireland to
> >Scandanavian corridor, so to speak. There are some interesting swirls and
> >curlicues here and there further south, but not interlaces.
> >
> >mark
>
>
> Well - Roman mosaic floors? I've seen good plaitwork in England, France and
> Italy on those. So I'm not convinced that plain ribbon interlace is of
> Insular origin either.
>
> Pippin
I believe it was David Wilson (George Henderson?) who made a case for
interlace being an adaptation by Germanic tribes of late or
sub-antique designs that they found appealing. Besides floor
mosaics, weaving patterns are a likely source.
>From there, they seem to have been readily adopted by neighboring
peoples, such as the Irish and the Picts (cf. the St Ninian's Isle
treasure, etc.). It was only from there that they entered the
Hiberno-Saxon manuscript tradition, although interlace has been
thoroughly co-opted by the "Celtic" revival movement.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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