#SNAILS IN MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS PORTABLE#
#SNAILS IN MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS SERIES#

“Don’t start with the conclusion and assemble evidence in support!,” he cautions. Long-held assumptions about the Middle Ages are often perpetuated by scholars and art historians and find their way not only into textbooks and popular culture, but into scholarship as well. By investigating illuminations and textual sources such as leaves from a Carolingian manuscript in the Museum’s manuscript collection, he is working to debunk such myths about early medieval manuscript production. “If you ask most people what they think about ‘medieval,’ they’ll say ‘cold, dark, and brutal’,” says Nees.

#SNAILS IN MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS SERIES#

Lawrence Nees is currently a visiting scholar in the Getty Museum’s Manuscripts Department, conducting research for a forthcoming book on Frankish manuscripts of the seventh to tenth centuries to be published as part of the series Manuscripts Illuminated in France, to be published by Harvey Miller and Brepols.

#SNAILS IN MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS PORTABLE#

“Key to the success of the Treasure Act is the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme, with our local archaeologists in England working closely with local detectorists and other finders.Lawrence Nees examines the text in a Getty Museum manuscript to identify it’s scribe. “It is fantastic news that Treasure finds have been acquired by over 100 museums across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with many ending up close to where they were found enabling local people to learn about the archaeology and history of their local area,” says Michael Lewis, Head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and Treasure at the British Museum. More than 96% of Treasure finds in 2018 were found by metal-detectorists.22% of these acquiring cases have seen one or more interested party generously waive their reward.347 of these cases were acquired by 108 different museums.

This report showcases that 1,094 cases were reported Treasure in 2018, consisting of over 20,906 individual artefacts. The Portable Antiquities Scheme also released its latest report, which covers the year 2018.

Norwich Castle Museum hopes to acquire the item. This likely meaning ‘armed with a shield, the outlaw dragon is harmful’, which suggests a mythic link between elephants and dragons – it was said that a dragon is an elephant’s only foe.

The seal matrix also has an inscription, which reads x PARMAT EST ‧ WEVEI ‧ DRA OBEST. The image may have been based on reports of these fabulous and exotic creatures from travellers or pilgrims returning from the East or from the Crusades, or from descriptions and images in bestiaries and other manuscripts.” Few people in medieval England would have seen a live elephant. It is represented with a war-tower, or howdah, on its back, which subsequently became known as the ‘elephant and castle’ of heraldic iconography. “The motif engraved on the gemstone is a rare portrayal of an elephant from the medieval period, which is found mainly on objects signifying wealth and status, such as carved ivory gaming pieces and heraldic badges. “This gold counter-seal, or private seal, would have been used to seal letters or documents, and demonstrated the wealth, status and education of its owner, adds Beverley Nenk. The castle reflects the animal’s close association with the east, where Indians and Persians were said to use such structures to fight from in battle. Elephants appear in examples of early medieval art as a symbol of fidelity, gentleness, great strength and longevity, including Romanesque sculpture and Byzantine silks. Dating between AD 12, it is engraved with an elephant carrying a castle or howdah on its back. Photo courtesy PAS / Norfolk County CouncilĪlso discovered in 2020 was a gold medieval seal matrix, found near King’s Lynn in Norfolk. Plans are underway for the Wakefield Museum to acquire the artefact. As such, it demonstrates the humour often found in medieval material culture.” The mount may be a satirical reference to cowardly or non-chivalric behaviour of opponents in battle, or as a parody of the upper or knightly classes. Snails are often depicted in the margins of medieval illuminated decorated manuscripts and are thought to symbolise cowardice, and this may be the intended meaning. “The image of the praying knight emerging from a snail shell atop a goat implies an element of parody or satire. “This unusual silver-gilt mount may once have been attached to a leather belt or strap, or perhaps worn as a badge,” explains Beverley Nenk, Later Medieval Collections at Curator at the British Museum.

Snails in medieval manuscripts