This piece is done in a technique called champleve, which involves etching the metal and inlaying the enamel. It takes 5 days to go through the process. It is counter-enamelled (enamelled on the back) and fired around 7 times. It has cloisonne details inlaid.
There is much debate among archaeologists about whether the Celts were influenced by the Scythians in their animal art. One argument against such influence is that there have been no joint finds of Scythian and Celtic material. An argument for such influence is stylistic similarities.
The animals they chose to illustrate were often the same as the Celts: deer, bulls, boars - but this Scythian cat (or panther) is an uncommon subject for the Celts. It is based on an openwork bronze. I have added typical Insular Celtic spiral trumbet patterns to enhance the "Celtic" effect.
Pieces is 2.75" in diameter
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