Danish niello inlays from the Iron Age

Petersen, Karen Stemann

doi:10.1080/0108464x.1995.10590090

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Published niello analyses suggest that silver sulfide was decorated on gold objects between the fourth-fourteenth centuries CE 20,21 . Silver sulfide niello was produced by melting silver and excess sulfur together 19,20,23 . Modern experiments suggest that silver sulfide can only be applied to a metal recess in solid form because silver sulfide is easily decomposed before reaching its melting point (861 °C) in an oxidizing atmosphere; it is thus practical to heat the niello to about 600 °C to soften it, after which it can be applied 20,21,24 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technological characterization of gold jewellery from the Sogdian tomb of Shi Jun (d. 579 CE) in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province

Tan

Yang

Yan

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Northern dynasties (386-581 CE) of China witnessed extensive cultural contacts with the outside world. Several gold objects of this period indicate multiple culture influences. However, very few of them were testified by metallurgic analysis. The gold jewellery including a finger ring and an earring with exotic features were uncovered from the joint elite Sogdian tomb of Shi Jun and his wife of the Northern Zhou dynasty (557-581 CE) in Xi'an. The current study applied multiple non-destructive analyses to investigate the decorative techniques and materials of the two objects. the results showed that both ornaments were made of refined gold. Autogenous welding and brazing were employed for joining the granules of the earring, indicating different technical choices. More interestingly, niello made of silver sulfide was identified as an innovative technology to decorate the finger ring, presenting the earliest evidence of niello inlay in ancient china. it is noteworthy that powders of silver and sulfur were applied separately, deferring from the traditional method of silver sulfide being synthesised prior to being used. These findings help us gain insights into understanding the technical features of early Medieval gold jewellery, as well as the goldsmith's methods and intentions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technological characterization of gold jewellery from the Sogdian tomb of Shi Jun (d. 579 CE) in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province

Tan

Yang

Yan

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…He argues that the use of niello is often associated with the Jellinge-style, supposedly seen on the figure's chair, which supports its dating to the middle of the 10 th century. Although the Boeslunde-figurine does not have niello inlays, niello is found in the Iron Age as well, suggesting that stylistic elements and techniques are not inconsistent with her closest parallels (Petersen 1994). Furthermore, gold deposits decrease by the 6 th century leaving room for silver artefacts in the years to follow, which for instance the Aska pendant, made of silver, demonstrates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ambiguous Boeslunde Figure

Borake

2021

DJA

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This article presents a unique female figure found in Boeslunde, Zealand, Denmark. It stands at just 1.5 cm and is made of gilded silver with remarkably refined details. The date of the figure is discussed based on details of her garments, accessories, and hairstyle and she is compared to other archaeological representations and finds. Based on these criteria, a dating to the Late Iron Age/Early Viking Age is proposed. Her function is likewise discussed. By means of an examination of parallel finds, the figure’s function as a gaming piece or garment accessory has been ruled out. It is argued that she functioned as an amulet and her features are evaluated and discussed. Contemplating the figure from a ritual perspective, her necklace appears to be a significant attribute, an observation which has great implications for other representations such as the Odin-from-Lejre figure. It is, further considered whether her necklace is a representation of Freyja´s Brisingamen, and the little figure thus a depiction of Freyja, herself. Lastly, the intentionally differentiated shape and size of her eyes and their symbolic meaning is evaluated, and parallels are examined and discussed.

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“…An extensive amount of foreign literature is devoted to the problems of the technology of niello production. In the 1980-1990s, special research programs were launched to study archaeological objects from different eras to determine the niello technology and the stages of its evolution [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Russian Niello: Experimental Modeling and Research of the Microstructure

et al. 2021

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The paper presents the results of structural studies of model niello compositions reproducing historical niello inlays on encolpion crosses from the Suzdal Opolye. The specifics of the formation of inlay phases at different stages of its melting are analyzed. Comparison of the modeling results and historical niello shows that the microstructural features of archaeological samples correspond to niello production by melting.

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Danish niello inlays from the Iron Age

Cited by 7 publications

References 4 publications

Technological characterization of gold jewellery from the Sogdian tomb of Shi Jun (d. 579 CE) in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province

Technological characterization of gold jewellery from the Sogdian tomb of Shi Jun (d. 579 CE) in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province

Ambiguous Boeslunde Figure

Ancient Russian Niello: Experimental Modeling and Research of the Microstructure

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