Royal Selangor and the British Museum celebrate the rich artistic legacy of early European artisans with a collection of home and personal accessories. Their designs offer a fresh take on iconic artefacts that span the Iron Age, Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Viking and Early Medieval cultures.
Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the first national public museum in the world. From the outset it was a museum of the world, for the world, and this idea still lies at the heart of the Museum’s mission today. The museum tells the stories of cultures across the world, from the dawn of human history, over two million years ago, to the present.
The highlight of the collection is the tea caddy inspired by the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet. Unearthed at Sutton Hoo, one of the most famous archaeological digs in Britain, the iconic helmet was the face of the Anglo-Saxon culture.
The surfaces of the helmet are decorated with animal interlace, ‘Dancing Warrior’ and ‘Fallen Warrior’ motifs. An iron crest forms a great snake that arches over the top of the helmet. The crest meets the snout of a flying creature that covers the face of the helmet. The flying creature forms the nose, a moustache, and eyebrows of a human face. The intricate design of the fearsome warrior mask is recreated on the lid and sides of the caddy.
Completing the Anglo-Saxon inspired pieces is a letter opener which depicts the zoomorphic motif of a seax sheath silver fitting. The blade-like seax was a popular weapon or tool among the Anglo-Saxons.
The delicate animal shaped motifs from an Iron Age flagon from France are recreated on a tankard. The animal-shaped handle features a canine figure guarding her cubs on the rim. This motif was derived from easterly art across the central Asian steppe.
A trinket box takes on the appearance of a Viking or Anglo-Saxon brooch. Featuring a harmonious merging of Viking Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon art styles, the openwork brooch depicts a round-eyed snake biting the neck of a four-legged animal, which in turn bites itself. The animal’s body is marked out with a line of beads and spirals. The fierce battle between these two fantastical creatures is brought to life on the lid.
Check out the collection at the AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair, Stand H6.
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