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View Full Version : 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/2021/dec/17/extraordinary-restoration-of-roman-rock-crystal-jar-from-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.