Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T08:25:50.716Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

II. Anglo-Saxon Glass Claw-beakers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2011

Vera I. Evison
Get access

Abstract

During the three centuries following the fall of the Roman Empire the repertoire of the glass blowers in the north-west of Europe was mainly confined to simple shapes of drinking vessels, without the embellishment of handles and appliqués such as had adorned the more expensive Roman products. The only exception to this simplicity in production was the claw-beaker (Rüsselbecher), and this has therefore received a great deal of attention from archaeologists who were intrigued to discover when, where, and also why they were made. As a result of these studies a general system of typology and chronology has gradually been established, but there are now reasons for re-opening the subject. First, new claw-beakers have come to light in recent excavations which add considerably to the facts so far assembled as to typology and chronology; secondly, only a small proportion of the work done on these glasses has appeared in English publications, and, thirdly, the claw-beakers found in Anglo-Saxon England have not been subjected to an examination focused on them as an insular group (rather than as a peripheral phenomenon of the continental series) with particular attention to dating by association. It is hoped that each of the aspects of the subject developed here will produce fresh evidence of vital interest.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 107 , 1982 , pp. 43 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Notes

1 Major studies are: Fremersdorf, F., ‘Zur Geschichte des fränkischen Rüsselbechers’, Wallraf-Richartz Jahrbuch N.F. II/III (1933/1934), 7–30Google Scholar; Thorpe, W. A., English Glass (1935)Google Scholar; Rademacher, F., ‘Fränkische Gläser aus dem Rheinland’, Banner Jahrbücher, CXLVII (1942), 285–344Google Scholar; Harden, D. B., ‘Glass vessels in Britain and Ireland, A.D. 400–1000’, Dark-Age Britain, ed. Harden, D. B. (1956), pp. 132–67.Google Scholar

2 Thorpe, W. A., English Glass (1949), p. 51.Google Scholar

3 Fremersdorf, op. cit. (1933/4), Abb. 2; Doppelfeld, O., Römisches und Fränkisches Glas in Köln (1966), Farbtafel II.Google Scholar

4 Pfeffer, W. von, ‘Zur Typologie merowingerzeitlicher Gläser mit Fadenverzierung’, Festschrift des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums in Mainz III (1952), 155Google Scholar; Evison, V. I., ‘Anglo-Saxon finds near Rainham, Essex, with a study of glass drinking horns’, Arch. XCVI (1955), 186–7Google Scholar; Isings, C., Roman Glass from Dated Finds (1957), p. 142.Google Scholar

5 Jahrbücher d. Vereins v. Alterthumsfr. im Rheinl. XXXVI (1864), 120, Taf, III. 1; Ixxxi (1881), Taf. VI, 1369.Google Scholar

6 Doppelfeld, , op. cit. (1966), pp. 101 and 102.Google Scholar

7 Isings, , op. cit. (1957), p. 141.Google Scholar

8 cf. Fremersdorf, , op. cit. (1933/1934), Abb. 9 and 10.Google Scholar

9 Bushe-Fox, J. P., Second Report on the Excavation of the; Roman Fort at Richborough, Kent (1926), p. 52Google Scholar, pl. xxv, 76; id., Fourth Report on the Excavation of the Roman Fort at Richborough, Kent (1949), pl. XL, 153.Google Scholar

10 Dasnoy, A., ‘Quelques ensembles archéologiques du bas empire provenant de la région namuroise’, Annales de la Société archéologique de Namur, LIII (1966), 209–10.Google Scholar

11 Haberey, W., ‘Spätantike Gläser aus Gräbern von Mayen’, Bonner Jahrbücher, CXLVII (1942), 254Google Scholar, Taf. 37; Doppelfield, , op. cit. (1966), pp. 134, 135.Google Scholar

12 Antiq.J. LIV (1974), 277–8, pl. LVI.Google Scholar

13 Ypey, J., ‘Een zeldazam laat Merovingisch glas in het Rijengrafveld te Bergeijk, Noord-Brabant’, Berichten van de Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek, VIII (1957/1958), 82–91.Google Scholar

14 B.M. Reg. No. 1905 5–20 37.

15 Rahtz, P. A.et al. ‘Three post-Roman finds from the temple well at Pagans Hill, Somerset’, Med.Arch. II (1958), 104–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

16 Wilson, A. E. and Gerard, E., Guide to the Anglo-Saxon Collection, Worthing Museum (1947)Google Scholar, fig. XIII; Harden, D. B., ‘Saxon glass from Sussex’, The Sussex County Magazine, 25 (1951), 260–8, fig. 2.Google Scholar

17 Sussex Arch. Coll. LVI (1914)Google Scholar, pl. VII, 3 and 3a; Harden, , op. cit. (1951), 260–8, fig. 2.Google Scholar

18 Ch. Gerard, , ‘Notice sur une tombe découverte près de la ferme de Heumont, commune de Réhon (Moselle)’, Congrès archéologique de France (Metz) (1846), 190–6.Google Scholar This must be the drinking horn that was once in the possession of Strasbourg Museum (Evison, , op. cit. (1955), 176). I am indebted to M. M. P. Périn and H. Collin for this reference.Google Scholar

19 Med. Arch. III (1959), 81, A 13–14, fig. 41.Google Scholar

20 For publication references for this and other continental claw-beakers mentioned below see list p. 71–2.

21 Doppelfeld, , op. cit. (1966), Farbtafel IV.Google Scholar

22 Isings, , op. cit. (1957), p. 136.Google Scholar

23 No doubt contemporary with the Castle Eden type is a new find from Broadstairs I, grave 42, which the excavator, Mrs. L. Webster, kindly allowed me to include in this survey as a footnote. It is a light green cone with everted rim and folded foot with a high kick. There is one zone only of horizontal trails below the rim and two rows of three claws each, the tail of each claw extending to the foot, those of the top row being elongated and pressed against the wall of the vessel at intervals; ht. 16·5, m. 8·6, base 3·2 cm. It is clearly a later version of the Flavion beaker, although without the snicked trails, and must be assigned a type of its own, Type 2C.

24 When published in 1909 it was kept at Brook House, Eastry, but Mr. Anthony Irby, son of the owner and who was a few years old at the time, informs me that he does not remember the beaker. One may assume therefore that it left Brook House soon after 1909.

25 Böhme, H. W., ‘Das frühe Mittelalter am mittleren Main’, Führer zu vor- und frühgeschichtlichen Denkmälern, XXVII (1975), 106–8.Google Scholar

26 Harden, , op. cit. (1956), p. 140. class IIcGoogle Scholar

27 Bruce-Mitford, R. L. S. ‘The Snape boat grave’, Proc. Suffolk Inst. Arch., XXVI (1952), 1–26Google Scholar; Werner, J., ‘Zur Zeitstellung des Bootgrabes von Snape’, Actes du VIIe Congrès International des Sciences Préhistoriques et Protohistoriques, 1966 (1970), 997–8Google Scholar; Bruce-Mitford, R., Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology (1974), pp. 114–40.Google Scholar

28 Germania, XLII (1964), 188Google Scholar; for a colour plate see: Doppelfeld, O. and Pirling, R., Fränkische Fürsten im Rheinland (1966). p.57.Google Scholar

29 B.M. Reg. No. 1936 5–11 22.

30 Loë, Baron de, Belgique Ancienne, IV (1939), 153, fig. 122.Google Scholar

31 Bruce-Mitford, R. L. S., ‘Excavations at Sutton Hoo in 1938’, Proc. Suffolk Inst. Archaeol. XXX (1964), pl. VIIa.Google Scholar

32 Werner, J., ‘Ein fränkischer Rüsselbecher aus Straubing’, Jahresbericht der Bayerischen Bodendenkmalpflege (1962). 92–4.Google Scholar

33 Fremersdorf, , op. cit. (1933/1934), Abb. 9.Google Scholar

34 I am grateful to Dr. B. Schmidt for the following information on these two claw-breakers, and for the photograph, pl. VI b. Mühlhausen, Städtische Kiesgrube, claw-beaker yellowish/yellow-green, ht. 16·5 cm., diam. mouth 9·5 cm. Mus. Mühlhausen Inv. No. V/4, on loan to Mus. für Urgeschichte, Weimar. Mühlhausen, Wagenstedter Str. Gr. 1, claw-beaker with 10 claws, yellow/yellow-brown with slight-olive green tone, ht. 15·5 cm., diam. mouth 8–8 cm., foot 4–2 cm. Found in a grave with a francisca, shield boss and grip, arrow head, knife, flint and steel, oval buckle, pottery bowl and comb. Museum Mühlhausen III/37/81.

35 Rademacher, , op. cit. (1942), Taf. 43–5.Google Scholar

36 Glazema, P. and Ypey, J., Merovingische Ambachtskunst (1956). p. 33Google Scholar, grave 413; Boone, W. J. de and Ypey, J., ‘Nederland in de tijd der Merovingen’, Antiquity and Survival, II, 5–6 (1959): Honderd Eeuwen Nederland, 205, fig. 8.Google Scholar

37 A probable fragment of a sea-green claw of the late Vendel period was found on a settlement site at Oydarden, Heigreberg, Mosterøy, Rennesøy, Rogaland, Hougen, E. K., ‘Glassbegre i Norge fra Sjette til Tiende Århundre’, Viking, XXXII (1968), 85–109, fig. 2.Google Scholar

38 Rademacher, , op. cit. (1942)Google Scholar, Taf. 47; Arwidsson, G., ‘Some glass vessels from the boat-grave cemetery at Valsgarde’, Acta Archaeologica, III (1932), 251–66Google Scholar, pl. XII, XIII; id., Vendelstile, Email und Glas (1942), pp. 81 ff.Google Scholar

39 Cramp, R., ‘Decorated window glass and millefiori from Monkwearmouth’, Antiq. J. 1 (1970), 328.Google Scholar

40 Arwidsson, G., op. cit. (1932), 252 and pl. XII.Google Scholar

41 Holmqvist, W. and Arrhenius, B., Excavations at Helgö, II (1964), pp. 249–50, fig. 110.Google Scholar

42 Harden, D. B., ‘Ancient glass, II: Roman’, Arch. J. CXXVI (1970). 44–77, 51 and n. 39.Google Scholar

43 Harden, D. B., op. cit. (1956), 146–7Google Scholar; id., ‘Ancient glass, III: Post-Roman’, Arch. J. CXXVIII (1972), 78–117, 87.Google Scholar

44 Ypey, , op. cit. (1957/1958), note on p. 13.Google Scholar

45 Brulet, R., Catalogue du matériel mérovingien conservé au Musée Archéologique de Charleroi (1970), fig. 23, 2.Google Scholar

46 Fremersdorf, , op. cit. (1933/1934), Abb. 28.Google Scholar

47 Werner, , op. cit. (1970).Google Scholar

48 Koch, U., Die Grabfunde der Merowingerzeit aus dem Donautal um Regensburg (1968), Taf. 97, 13.Google Scholar

49 Fremersdorf, F., ‘Zu dem blauen Glasbecher’, Kölner Jahrbuch für Vor- and Frühgeschichte, I (1955), 34.Google Scholar

50 Harden, , op. cit. (1956)Google Scholar, pl. xviiij; Bruce-Mitford, , op. cit. (1964), 39–43.Google Scholar

51 Ypey, , op. cit. (1957/1958).Google Scholar

52 Ibid., 89, fig. 1.

53 Fremersdorf, , op. cit. (1955), Taf. 1, la and b.Google Scholar

54 Stolpe, H. and Arne, T. J., La Nécropole de Vendel (1927), pl. VII, 5Google Scholar; Arwidsson, G., Valsgärde 6 (1942)Google Scholar, Taf. 31; id., Valsgärde 8 (1954), Taf. 28.Google Scholar

55 Jankuhn, H., ‘Das Abendland und Scandinavien im 8 Jahrhundert’, Settimane di studio del Centro Italiano di studi sull' alto medioevo, XX (1973), 535–70, Abb. 5.Google Scholar

56 Hougen, , op. cit. (1968).Google Scholar

57 Holmqvist, W., Excavations at Helgö, I (1961), pp. 164–82Google Scholar; Holmqvist, and Arrhenius, , op. cit. (1964), pp. 136–9, 243–60.Google Scholar

58 Hougen, E. K., ‘Glassmaterialet fra Kaupang’, Viking, XXXIII, (1969).Google Scholar

59 Stenton, F. M., Anglo-Saxon England (1955), p. 7.Google Scholar

60 Vierck, H., ‘Zum Fernverkehr über See im 6 jahrhundert angesichts angelsächsischer Fibelsätze in Thuringen. Eine Problemskizze’, in K. Hauck, Goldbrakteaten aus Sievern (1970), pp. 355–95Google Scholar; Genrich, A., ‘Uber einige Funde der Völkerwanderungszeit aus Brandgräbern des gemischtbelegten Friedhofes bei Liebenau, Landkreis Nienburg/Weser’, Nachrichten aus Niedersachsens Urgeschichte, XXXIII (1964), 40–3.Google Scholar

61 Salin, E., La Civilisation Mérovingienne, I (1950), p. 123.Google Scholar

62 Harden, , op. cit. (1970), 87Google Scholar; Cramp, R., ‘Glass finds from the Anglo-Saxon monastery of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow’, Studies in Glass History and Design, Eighth Int. Congress on Glass, London, 1968.Google Scholar

63 Harden, , op. cit. (1956), p. 147.Google Scholar

64 Listed erroneously as grave 26 in Harden (1956), p. 159.

65 Abbott, G. Wyman, ‘Further discoveries in Anglo-Saxon cemeteries at Woodston, Hunts.’, Annual Report 40 Peterborough Nat. Hist. Scientific & Arch. Soc. (1920), 34–9.Google Scholar

66 I am grateful to Mrs. M. E. Shaw for information on this glass.

67 See Weyl, W. A., Coloured Glasses (1951), pp. 237 ff.Google Scholar

68 Ibid., pp. 116–18, and Lawton, A., Holland, A. J. and Tunier, W. E. S., J. Soc. Glass Tech. XXIV (1940), 73.Google Scholar

69 See Newton, R. G., Glass Tech. XIX, 3, (1978), 59–60.Google Scholar