| Celtic animal interlace is similar in construction
to borders but the cords
terminate in feet, heads, and tails. The animal designs are very much influenced
by older Saxon and Pictish traditions of abstract beast forms that when combined
with the new more sophisticated knot work of the Celtic designers. A good Celtic artist will never leave a loose end on a strand
unless it is stylized into a zoomorphic element or spiral. Zoomorphic art is
most often found on 3-d art pieces such as Viking ships or carved wooden
or stone statues. Some design functioned in the same mythical way that gothic
gargoyles were meant to scare away evil spirits or in the case of war, the
enemy. Fierce looking beast would be carved into the extended fronts of
ships with the rear being carved into tails. This gave the appearance of
some sort of see monster in the water, and under the right conditions such
as thick fog and a weary eye this might actually frighten their superstitious
enemy into a temporary retreat. |
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Click on image to see a sample of Celtic zoomorphic knot work |
