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RESEARCH PRODUCT

La tombe princière de Lavau et le concept d’un artisanat de cour

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The idea of crafts specifically linked to a high status court, with outstanding artisans who gravitated around a local prince took form during the study of objects from the Lavau tomb, the discovery of which has given scholars a rare glimpse of the riches contained within a high status tomb dating to the La Tène A1. These objects, from a tomb that is later than most tombs of this period, represent a standard Hallstattian funerary set but also include new La Tène objects. They highlight probable long distance relations involving the trade of luxury items of Mediterranean influence. These would have probably influenced or inspired local crafts people, who made objects in order to highlight the role of the prince in society. Only a small number of well-documented sumptuous tombs, similar to Lavau, can be used to define this court craft of Late Prehistoric society, the predominant ingredients being the link to a ruling cast and its territorial pole, using high level or specialised knowledge, of eclectic origin and artistic experimentation. In this milieu, the technical skill of the craft worker creates artistry and we can clearly see the elements that forge a link between the birth of first Celtic Style and the court craft that by its proximity to power is turned towards Mediterranean influences. We are able to perceive using different objects the work of a cultivated master artisan with an influence that goes beyond the workshop in order to perpetuate this new stylistic repertoire.