News

Exploring Early Celtic Art

Mayer Mirror, image courtesy of
the World Museum,
National Museums Liverpool.

Former British Museum curator Dr Jody Joy comes to the Isle of Man this week to tell the story of ‘Early Celtic Art’. He explores the subject from its early beginnings to its influence around the world at the Manx Museum on Friday 28^th November at 7.30pm.

Dr Jody Joy says;
“Celtic art was first made around 460 BC in Northeast France and Southwest Germany and draws on artistic influences from as far afield as Greece, Egypt and even Persia. From these very small beginnings, the art then spread rapidly and was used to decorate objects from as far west as Ireland to Romania in the east and the Iberian Peninsula in the south.”

Jody will tell the story of Celtic art until it changed irrevocably with the coming of Rome and he will address questions such as who made it and what was it made for?

Page from The Deer’s Cry by Archibald Knox.

Dr Jody Joy is now Senior Curator (Archaeology) at Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge with responsibility for British and European Archaeology. He specialises in the archaeology of northwest Europe during the first millennium BC but his research interests also include the later Bronze Age and early Roman periods. His main interests concern art and technology and he is currently involved in research projects examining the technology of Iron Age cauldrons and their role as feasting vessels and Iron Age torcs and their relationship with the human body.

The lectures are in collaboration with Celtic Style exhibition on display at the House of Manannan celebrating 150 years since the birth of internationally renowned designer Archibald Knox. The exhibition explores Celtic style from pre-history to modern day, beginning with the 2000 year old Mayer Mirror.

Jody’s lecture will explore the context of this beautifully designed mirror among other examples and the roots of this exquisite design style still used by so many modern day designers. Tickets for Early Celtic Art are £10 available from the Manx Museum Gallery Shop and www.manxnationalheritage.im. A 10% discount is available to Members of the Friends of Manx National Heritage.

The following day, on Saturday 29^th November, MNH curator Yvonne Creswell presents an afternoon lecture ‘Archibald Knox and The Deer’s Cry’ as part of a Manx Museum Christmas lecture series. The talk begins at 2pm. Tickets are £6 Adults, £3 Student/ Child from the Manx Museum Gallery Shop and www.manxnationalheritage.im.