The Use of Inlay Technique in the Production of Medieval Couronian and Semigallian Military Equipment (12th to 14th Century)
Volume 8 (2007): Weapons, Weaponry and Man (In memoriam Vytautas Kazakevičius), pp. 368–376
Pub. online: 9 November 2007
Type: Article
Open Access
Open Access
Received
15 March 2007
15 March 2007
Revised
26 May 2007
26 May 2007
Published
9 November 2007
9 November 2007
Abstract
The subject of this paper is the inlay technique, namely the hammering of fine silver to an iron object specially grooved for the purpose, and early medieval Semigallian and Couronian military equipment decorated in this technique. This includes sword hilts, strap dividers and mounts made by Baltic smiths, and a unique armour plate. The study of the inlay technique permits the former silver decoration on objects to be reconstructed. The ornate Couronian sword hilts provide grounds for hypothesising that there was a specialist weaponry workshop at Talsi hill-fort.