While visiting the UK last week, I made a short pilgrimage to the British Museum. I stood before the relics from Sutton Hoo - the famous Anglo-Saxon burial site. As you may have guessed, the gold pieces really caught my attention - you could say I was stupefied – such detail, such craft.
What I discovered was that the main teaching of Sutton Hoo was the sophistication of the craft and apparent culture of the Anglo Saxons. Previously thought to be primitive or culturally sparse, they were revealed to have been extraordinarily sophisticated in both craftsmanship and worldview.
There was something profoundly moving about the exhibition – partly because I love history and archaeology, but also as my current creativity is very much inspired by ancient works including the ancient gold relic my son and I discovered.
And as I watched the beautiful film ‘The Dig’ in the evening, which is all about the discovery of Sutton Hoo in the 1930s, the importance and significance of the find sank further unto me and all I will say is that this adds fuel to my creative fire for the forthcoming Treowth Collection inspired by the mysterious and ancient gold discovery my son and I made earlier this year.
Contact me if you want to see and have early access to the Treowth launches before anyone else.
