Manfred Nawroth
Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Berlin, Germany
Celtic art of the La Tene period was developed under influence of the Etruscan, Greek and Scythian art crafts in the 5th century BC. Motives like palmettos and lotos flowers were derived from the Etruscan and Greek art, zoomorph motives were developed unter Scythian influence. In the Celtic art these motives were developed into a style of its own with curvolinear patterns and phantastic depictions of humans and animals. Characteristic are anthropomorph masks. These artisitic patterns were used to decorate daily things, weapons and jewelry. From the 5th to 2nd centuries BC the Celtic art was changing several times from the Early Style to Waldalgesheim Style, the Plastic Style and the Sword Style. During the Roman Empire a special style was developed north of the Alps. Characteristic are a jour metal works in the “Celtic renaissance” of the Late Antique Period. In Ireland and Scotland the Celtic art survived until the medieval times. The La Tene Style was transformed under influence of Oriental, Eastern Mediterranean, Christian and German art to a new form of artistic expression — visible on metal works, in book illustrations and on stone crosses. Later the Celtic art disappeared for centuries until it was rediscovered in the 18th century and even had influence on the vegetal style of Art Nouveau.