- The Nature and Function of Celtic Art -
Figure 20.3 Sword Style decorated iron scabbards: (above) detail of Hungarian Sword Style
scabbard found at Cernon-sur-Coole, Marne, France. W. C.5.2 cm. Second half third century
Be. (Photo: Centre de la Recherche de la Siderurgie, Nancy, courtesy Professor P.-M. Duval)
and (right) from (J)? Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, with vestigial dragon pair. W. C.5.5 cm; (2)
Batina, Croatia (formerly Kiskoszeg, Hungary), with vestigial dragon pair below the scabbard
entry. W. 6 cm; (3) Tapolca, Halaphegy, Veszpn:m m., Hungary, with triskel frieze; (4) Bolscke-
Madocsahegy no. 2, Tolna m., Hungary, with triskels and figures-of-eight. W. 9. J cm. third
century Be. (Drawings: Maria Ecsedi.)
of the 'Vegetal style', while in France and Switzerland the decoration is simpler and
less extensive. This 'Style' was contemporary with the stage of maximum Celtic
expansion which brought several groups from central Europe into contact with the
Hellenistic world of Greece and western Turkey, with consequent influence on both
pottery and metalwork (Szabo 1973, 1975; Kruta and Szabo 1982). This is the period
represented by the massive deposit of objects at the La Tene type-site on the shores
of Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland and marks the beginning of the Middle La nne
phase of conventional iron age chronology (Kaenel 1990).
Jacobsthal's 'Plastic style' also begins around the start of the third century Be and
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