| Home | About | Testimonials | Pharaohs | Egyptian Fashion | Pyramids |
|
Greek Warfare | Romans in Britain | Fossils & Bones |
|
A new workshop on Anglo-Saxon Warfare and Jewellery Warfare available now, whole day after Easter |
The Kingston Brooch - the finest example of Anglo-Saxon jewellery, now in the Liverpool Museum |
|
|
This workshop is designed to cover the Anglo-Saxons unit of the KS2 National Curriculum for History. It is suitable for year 5 or 6. Main Activities: 1. Learn about Anglo-Saxon weapons and armour 2. Make helmets, shields and swords 3. Learn about Anglo-Saxon gold and silver jewellery 4. Make jewellery Note: the art activities are challenging and may not be suitable for classes of lower art and crafts abilities. Fee: £209 per class per day, maximum 34 children. The first part of this workshop on weapons and warfare is now ready as a half day. The whole day with the jewellery session should be ready after Easter. To book: contact Tony North tnorth67@hotmail.com 0161 224 6445 |
Introduction After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century the peoples of northern Europe - Angles, Saxons and Jutes - quickly moved to fill the power void left in Britain, settling, taking control, and introducing their culture to the Britons. 1500 years later we still owe a great deal to these peoples, in our language, culture, and genetic inheritance. This workshop takes a look at two essential aspects of Anglo-Saxon life - weapons and warfare, and jewellery. The many stunning works in gold and silver left by the craftsmiths reveal that this period is unfairly known as a Dark Age. Children will learn about the legacy of the Anglo-Saxons and create two works of art - a helmet, shield or sword, and a piece of gold or silver jewellery. The materials and methods are very high quality and you will be very impressed with the results. We will also look at replicas of a sword, shield and helmet in the morning, and replicas of jewellery in the afternoon.
|
|
|
Lesson Plan ~ under construction! |
||
|
Some of the artwork children will make: click for larger versions
Replica of the Coppergate helmet, now in the Yorkshire Museum. Owned by a nobleman, it has two gold bands inscribed with a Christian prayer, and his name, Oshere.
The helmet is made with gold and silver card, templates, and rubber grip mat material painted gold, to give a chainmail effect.
The real Coppergate Helmet Mostly iron, which has now rusted
|
Shields were usually round with a conical boss. Little is known about the designs although metal decorations have been found and traces of colours painted on the front. Children can choose from various designs. The rim was bound with leather; here brown wrapping paper is used.
Click photo to see larger version
Close-up of the shield boss. They usually had a 'button' on the top.
A real shield boss |
Children will make jewellery with special gold and silver foil, embossing tools, sticky back plastic, gold ink pens, acrylic paint, and detailed templates.
There will be about 10 designs available, to suit a range of abilities.
My replicas of an Anglo-Saxon sword and scabbard, shield, and helmet. The helmet is a copy of the famous Coppergate Helmet, found in York. Click photo for a larger version.
The bird decoration on the shield |
|
|
|
|
The shield found at Sutton Hoo