Frankish Art

Who were the Franks? One of many Germanic nomads pushing into Roman Empire Most influential barbarian tribe because they convert to Roman Catholic Christianity during Merovingian Dynasty (5 th to 8 th century CE) Height during Carolingian Dynasty (8 th to 10 th century CE) Charlemagne revives title of Holy Roman Emperor

= Roman Empire = Frankish federation

= Salian Franks 358 = Conquests to 460 = Conquests to 482

= Frankish Kingdom 482 = Conquests to 496 = Conquests to 507

= Frankish Kingdom 511 = Conquests to 537 = Vassal states

= Frankish Kingdom 768 = Conquests to 814 = Losses 798 = Loosely held territories

Ring with a Cross, 6 th century CE, Gold filigree, cloisonné cells inset with garnet; Worn by high ranking men and women Sometimes used as seals but mostly decorative Sophistication of Frankish metalwork

Pair of Bird-Shaped Brooches, 550–600 CE Gold sheet, cloisonné cells

Brooch with a runic inscription on back Merovingian, 6th century CE Length: 7.4 cm

Glass drinking-horn Frankish/Merovingian, 5th century CE

Animal head from Oseberg ship burial, ca. 825 CE, wood, about five feet tall Germanic animal style

Belt Buckle, 675–725 CE; Found in Germany; Iron with silver inlays.

Iron and silver buckle Merovingian, 7th century CE

Iron axe-head inlaid with silver Merovingian, 7th century CE From Germany Length: 17.5 cm A ceremonial or battle axe The throwing axe was the favorite weapon of the Franks Silver in-lay shows the status/military rank of original owner

Frankish "Claw" Beaker, 400–600 CE

Fragment of a Sarcophagus, 700s CE Monogram of Christ (Chi and Ro) along with alpha and omega – common motifs Non-Greek speaking sculptor

Equestrian statuette of Charlemagne 9 th Century Bronze, Maximum height of horse: 21 cm Artists took up the Gallo-Roman tradition of casting and based their works on examples from antiquity