Art made by Scandinavians during the Viking Age (c. 790-1100 CE) mostly encompassed the decoration of functional objects made of wood, metal, stone, textile and other materials with relief carvings, engravings of animal shapes and abstract patterns. The motif of the stylised animal ('zoomorphic' art) – Viking Age art's most popular motif – stems from a tradition that existed across north-western Europe from as early as the 4th century CE, but which developed in Scandinavia into a confident native style by the end of the 7th century CE. Often, these animals twist and churn across their surface – imagine decorated carts, engraved jewellery and weapons, wall-tapestries and memorial stones – interwoven with other animals and plant ornamentation.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 790 - c. 880Style E (also 'Oseberg' or 'Broa' style) of the Scandinavian animal ornamentation styles flourished between the late 8th- and late 9th century CE.
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c. 790 - c. 1100The Viking Age.
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c. 850 - c. 990The Borre Style of the Viking Age animal ornamentation styles flourished between c. 850 and the late 10th century CE.
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c. 890 - c. 990The Jelling Style, a Viking Age animal ornamentation style, cropped up just before 900 CE and was in vogue until the end of the 10th century CE.
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c. 950 - c. 1000The Mammen Style, a Scandinavian animal ornamentation style, flourished in this period.
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c. 990 - c. 1050The Ringerike Style, a Scandinavian animal ornamentation style, flourished in this period.
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c. 1040 - c. 1100The Urnes style, the last of the Viking Age animal ornamentation styles, flourished in this period and even extended into the 12th century CE in certain locations.
