Ancient example of "Turks Head" wire work

shayde78 · 22nd December 2021, 02:16 AM

I was hoping to get some opinions - the bottle pictured below was discovered in a field in 2014 in Western Scotland. It is believed to have been buried in 900CE, but to be from around 300CE, likely being of Roman origin. I was reading a post that speculated that the wire-work design that is called "Turks Head" (due to a passing similarity to a wrapped turban) wouldn't have appeared in Europe until after wars with the Turks. I offer this bottle as evidence that the design motif is much much older.

I welcome your thoughts regarding if the example pictured below actually is similar enough to the Turks Heads we see on hilts if weapons to support a tradition with ancient roots.

shayde78 · 22nd December 2021, 02:26 AM

I forgot to link to the article: https://www.theguardian.com/science/...galloway-hoard

Triarii · 13th January 2022, 04:36 PM

I suspect the name came later, though I don't know what the wire knots on sword hilts were called in say the C17th.

22nd December 2021, 02:16 AM	#1
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	Ancient example of "Turks Head" wire work I was hoping to get some opinions - the bottle pictured below was discovered in a field in 2014 in Western Scotland. It is believed to have been buried in 900CE, but to be from around 300CE, likely being of Roman origin. I was reading a post that speculated that the wire-work design that is called "Turks Head" (due to a passing similarity to a wrapped turban) wouldn't have appeared in Europe until after wars with the Turks. I offer this bottle as evidence that the design motif is much much older. I welcome your thoughts regarding if the example pictured below actually is similar enough to the Turks Heads we see on hilts if weapons to support a tradition with ancient roots. Attached Images

22nd December 2021, 02:26 AM	#2
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	I forgot to link to the article: https://www.theguardian.com/science/...galloway-hoard

13th January 2022, 04:36 PM	#3
Triarii Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Bristol Posts: 112	I suspect the name came later, though I don't know what the wire knots on sword hilts were called in say the C17th.