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The Gundestrup Bowl: A Reassessment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Ole Klindt-Jensen
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Extract

The great silver cauldron from Gundestrup is one of the most fascinating exhibits in the National Museum of Copenhagen. It was imported into Denmark in antiquity and, since its discovery in 1891, has been the subject of considerable discussion. Although most scholars have agreed in assigning it to a 1st-century B.C. Gallic context, this identification is by no means universally accepted. Other suggested areas of origin have ranged from the eastern Danubian countries and South Russia to Denmark and even to northern India; similarly, estimations of the date of the object have varied from the 1st century B.C. to the 5th century A.D.

Although the Gundestrup cauldron is a unique object differences in style between the various plates that make up the body of the vessel point to the fact that several artists were involved in its manufacture. In the centre of each of the seven (originally eight) outer plates are placed human busts, with minor figures occupying secondary positions, while the five, long, inner plates, and the bottom plate, bear varied motifs. From a technical point of view it is an outstanding specimen of the silversmith’s art; particularly fine is the bull on the bottom plate, which is executed with boldness and great skill, The cauldron must certainly be regarded as a product of a vigorous school of craftsmanship.

Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 33 , Issue 131 , September 1959 , pp. 161 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 1959

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References

1 The most recent discussion of Cernunnus is Ph. P. Bober’s extensive survey in A.J.A., 55, 1951, p. 13. Related types include :—standing god with stag antlers : goddess sitting with crossed legs : three-headed god sitting with crossed legs: and sculptures of La Téne date of seated crossed-Ieg figures.

2 Em. Espérandieu, Recueil, V, No. 3653. Cf. V, No. 4195.

3 P. Couissin, Revue arch., XVIII, 1923, p. 85; XIX, 1924, p. 29. A. Piganiol, Comptes rendus de l’Académie des Inscr. et des Belles-Lettres, 1954 (1955), p. 20.

4 P. Couissin, Revue arch., XVIII, 1923, p. 213. G. V. Merhart, W.P.Z. 27, 1940, p. 88.

5 J. Déchelette, Manuel d’arch., II, 3, p. 1113, fig. 459. A. Maître, Revue arch. 1888, I, p. 387, fig. I. F. Benoit, Gallia, XIV, 1956, p. 222, fig. 8. P. Couissin, Revue arch., XVIII, 1923, p. 52; XX, 1924, p. 292; XXV, 1927, p. 155. Cf. R. R. Clarke and C. F. C. Hawkes, P. P. S., XXI, 1955, p. 198. Spatha with studs or small knobs on the upper part of the pommel: C. Engelhardt, Denmark in the Early Iron Age, 1866, pl. 9: 1 and 9.

6 P. Couissin, Revue arch., XVII, 1923, p. 315; XVIII, 1923, p. 77; XIX, 1924, p. 41; XXIV, 1926, p. 210.

7 Diod. Sic., v, 30. The helmets, pls. XVIII, g, and XIX, c, are closely related to the Negau type of La Tène III (P. Reinecke, Ber. der Röm.-Germ. Komm., 1942, e.g. p. 179).

8 P. Jacobsthal, Early Celtic Art, 1944, No. 156 a, pl. 96.

9 O. Klindt-Jensen, Denmark Before the Vikings, 1957, pl. 39.

10 S. Müller, Nord. Fortidsm., I, 1892, p. 46. A. Blanchet, Traité des monnaies Gauloises, i, 1905, figs. 164- 65, and 263. Cf. T. G. E. Powell, The Celts, 1958, p. 265, pl. 47, a and c. S. Piggott, Ant. J., XXXIX, 1959, p. 19.

11 J. Déchelette, Manuel d’arch. 11, 3, p. 1202.

12 On coins: A. Blanchet, Traité des Monnaies Gauloises, 11, 1905, f.i. figs. 392-93, 428-29. S. Müller, Aarb. 1900, p. 141. P. Jacobsthal, E.C.A., p. 122. J. Déchelette, Manuel d’arch., 11, 3, p. 1207. P. Bienkowski, Die Darstellungen der Gallier in der hell. Kunst, 1908, fig. 1-2.

13 F. Benoit, L’art primitif mediterranéen de la vallée du Rhône, 1955. p. 49 (cf. his fig. 12). L. Halbert, Medd. Lund, 1957, p. 105.

14 J. Déchelette, Manuel d’arch., 11, 3, p. 1249, cf. fig. 447. R. Ulrich, Bellinzona, p. 707, Taf., LXXXIX Grab 424, 2.

15 O. Klindt-Jensen, Foreign Influences in Denmark’s Early Iron Age, 1950, p. 50. Cf. P. Jacobsthal, Greek Pins, 1956, p. 93, figs. 331-38.

16 S. Reinach, Bronzes figurés de la Gaule Romaine, 1894, p. 185, No. 177.

17 Strabo, rv, 4, 3. Cf. M. Renard, Ann. Soc. d’arch. de Bruxelles, 18,1904, p. 394. Southern Gallic fashion: R. Nierhaus, B.J., 153, 1953, p. 55.

18 L. Lindenschmit, Altertümer unserer heidn. Vorzeit, III, 1881, Heft VIII, Taf. 4. K. Schumacher, Ger-tnanendarstetlungen, 1938, p. 18. K. Lehman-Hartleben, Die Trafansäule, 1926, Taf. IX and 21. Em. Espérandieu, Recueil, passim. Cf. Pauly-Wissowa, R.E., 1, 2100. Germania Romana, 1924, p. 33.

19 Em. Espérandieu, Recueil, VI, No. 4708. S. Reinach, Bronzes figures, pp. 137 and 152. P. Parruzot, Revue arch, de l’Est et du Centre-Est, VI, 1955, p. 335.

20 F. Benoit, L’art primitif médit, de la Vallée du Rhône, 1955, pl. XVIII, 3.

21 R. Lantier, Comptes rendus de l’Acad. des Inscr. 1932, p. 302.

22 O. Klindt-Jensen, For. Infl., p. 80. Cf. recent unpublished finds at Manching, Bavaria.

23 R. Lantier, Mon. et Mémoires Piot, 37, 1940, p. 201.

24 P. Jacobsthal, E.C.A., p. 13; O. Klindt-Jensen, For. Infl., p. 126, fig. 80. P. Lambrechts, L’exaltation de la tête dans la pensée et dans l’art des Celtes, 19S4.

25 R. Lantier, Revue arch., I, 1939, p. 236. O. Klindt-Jensen, For. Infl., p. 115.

26 W. von Jenny, Keltische Metallarbeiten, 1935, Taf. 19.

27 S. Müller, Vor Oldtid, 1897, p. 573.

28 F. Courby, Les vases grecs à reliefs, 1922, p. 503, fig. 100: 6c. H. Norling-Christensen thinks that the dolphin type is still later and cites parallels from late Roman times (Aarb. 1954, p. 87).

29 P. J. Riis, Fra Nationalmuseets Arbejdsmark, 1950, p. 40.

30 R. Herbig, Die jüngeretruskischen Steitisarkophage, 1952, p. 19, Taf. 57, 16.

31 A. Blanchet Traité des monnaies Gauloises, 1905, fig. 139. Ant. Denkm, 1, Taf. 15.

32 J. D. Beazley, Etruscan Vase-Painting, 1947, p. an.

33 O. Klindt-Jensen, For. Infl., p. 137.

34 A. Blanchet, Traité, figs. 290 and 298.

35 R. Herbig, Die jüngeretruskischen Steinsarkophage, 1952, p. 23, Abb. 3. H. Norling-Christensen argues for a much later date of this plant ornamentation (Aarb. 1954, p. 83).

36 Cf. P. Jacobsthal, E.C.A., plate 270: 283 and plate 279: 474.

37 M. Pallottino, Etruscologia, 1947, p. 211. F. Benoit, Atti del 1° Congr. intern, di preistoria e di protoist. mediterranea, 1950, p. 439.

38 H. Bloesch, Antike Kunst in der Schweiz, 1943, pp. 22 and 148.

39 R. Wyss, Antiquity, XXX, 1956, p. 27.

40 L. Polacco, Studi etruschi, XXI, 1951, p. 59. F. Benoit, Ogam, 7, 1955, p. 285.

41 Arch. Jb., XVIII, 1903, p. 1.

42 E. Pernice and Fr Winter, Der Hildesheimer Silberfund, 1901, p. 67.

43 Cf. O. Klindt-Jensen, For. Infl., p. 109.

44 O. Klindt-Jensen, For. Infl., p. 133.

45 J. Filip, Keltové ve strednï Evropè, 1956, p. 366, Tab. IXX.

46 C. F. C. Hawkes, P.P.S., 1955, p. 201.

47 P. Cravoyat, Revue arch, de l’Est et du Centre-Est, 1955, p. 219, fig. 81. Em. Espérandieu, Recueil, XIV, 1955, No. 8319, Tours (R. Lantier). R. Lantier, Ber. Röm.-germ. Komm., 20, 1930, Taf. 30. H. Arbman, Tor, 1948, p. 109.

48 P. Jacobsthal, E.C.A., p. 9, Nos. 13 and 15.

49 Musée de Besançon. Another interesting piece: R. Renaud, Revue arch, de l’Est et du Centre-Est, VII, 1956, p. 292.

50 B.G., VI, 17.

51 As simple descendants in clay the vessels of the Bavai type may be considered. They are dated to the 1st-2nd century A.D., and perhaps a little later. H. Biévelet, Latomus, 1953, p. 158. M. Amand, Latomus, 1954, p. 40; 1955, p. 186; 1956, p. 347. M. Renard, Latomus, XIV, 1955, p. 202.

52 Livy XXXVI, 40.