Comments | bunn: Sighthound Objects

bunn

Sighthound Objects

Sep 12, 2011 17:27

I think sighthounds make very attractive shapes that remind me of Anglo Saxon objects.

For example, isn't this lovely and perfectly greyhound-like?
( Click for pretty longnecked houndy things )

history, dogs, arty stuff

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carmarthen September 13 2011, 00:25:30 UTC

I don't know about "when," but I suspect it's because of the Book of Kells. Silly, really, since elaborate knotwork (sometimes including animals) isn't limited to Celtic peoples (or Europe), but there you are.

Probably after the whole "Celtic" lumping, though, which I think was in the 1800s.

seasight September 13 2011, 05:10:15 UTC

You'd think someone would've come up with a good solid definition of what kind of art is "Celtic" as opposed to art by completely different cultures that sort of reminds us of the Celts (or may have been influenced).

And, of course, "Celtic" art was inspired by Etruscan and Greek art. So...

bunn September 14 2011, 08:39:26 UTC

I think art probably always crossfertilises a lot? I always wonder a bit about how people can look at a particular design and say stuff like 'oh, that must have been imported from Spain, see the characteristic flanges' rather than 'well, someone who made this had clearly seen the characteristic flanges of the ones that were popular in Spain...'

I suspect 'Celtic' to be used as a sort of marketing label nowadays, which makes googling a bit annoying.

seasight September 14 2011, 08:41:33 UTC

Oh, don't get me started on the many and varied uses of "Celtic". Seriously.

I can even tell you why people attach so much flibbetygibbet to the Celts. I could write an essay on it. Probably have, at some point.

bunn September 14 2011, 08:28:29 UTC

Thanks. I know 0 about the 1800s, but perhaps I should read up a bit so it's easier to identify 'celtic lumping' (sounds like an obscure sport like bog-snorkelling... :-D

carmarthen September 15 2011, 02:17:15 UTC

I *think* it was in the 1800s. But basically for a long time, the Celts were that Gaulish tribe and the Irish were the Irish and the Scottish were the Scottish and so on. And then the Victorians (?) came along and decided to lump all Celtic-speaking peoples together and the whole Celtic romanticism thing was born, iirc.

I am sure Google has the answers!

(Bog-snorkelling sounds...unpleasant.)

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