Birds on Aegean bronze Age Seals : a Study of Representation
105: Pohjois-Suomen historiallinen yhdistys, 1992. Hardcover. Text in English. 126 pp. Edge wear and rubbing to the dust jacket.
The study discusses two major aspects of representing birds depicted on Aegean seals: which species may be represented, and how the representations were carried out. In order to be able to come to conclusions on these matters, the representations are organized into a typology and their chronology is discussed. The study reveals that the motive was especially popular from the Middle Minoan II to the Late Minoan I periods. Nearly alla the seals appear to be of Minoan workmanship. While some depictions of birds are easy to identify according to their species or family, others cannot be identified according to orníthological principles.
The depictions appear to be based on schemes, some intended to represent certain species, but others merely representing a certain pose. The study argues that many representations, except for low quality products, are likely to be based on sketches that indicated the forms and proportions needed, Such drawings (or impressions taken from finished products) could be used as guides for representing commonly used motives which could be reused with some minor adjustments. It also appears that while most artists intended to create well balanced compositions, some used illusory effects to produce unbalanced compositions which give an impression of mobility. The study suggests that schemes may be characteristic of certain workshops or schools and may perhaps thus provide us with a possibility of identifying them. Near Fine / Very Good. Item #4090
ISBN: 9519617493
Price: $60.00