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The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Decorative Continuity in Early Anglo-Saxon England

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Stasis in the Medieval West?

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Abstract

Herman assesses the impacts of conversion upon early Anglo-Saxon culture, considering the extent to which traditional motifs in the metalwork underwent stylistic change under the influence of Continental styles. This led to rapidly changing modes of decoration and representation, as new motifs and media were introduced, and new purposes came to govern the deployment of ideas and materials. Despite this change, certain aspects of art from earlier periods remained deeply entrenched in Anglo-Saxon culture, with an enduring potency that governed the reception of imported ideas. The result of this was a continuity of decorative forms that linked pre-Christian and post-conversion visual culture across the period.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. History of Art Department, University of York, York, UK

    Melissa Herman

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  1. Melissa Herman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, United Kingdom

    Michael D.J. Bintley

  2. Oxford Archaeology, Thame, United Kingdom

    Martin Locker

  3. University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victoria Symons

  4. University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Mary Wellesley

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Herman, M. (2017). The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Decorative Continuity in Early Anglo-Saxon England. In: Bintley, M., Locker, M., Symons, V., Wellesley, M. (eds) Stasis in the Medieval West?. The New Middle Ages. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56199-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56199-2_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-95033-1

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