{{Short description|Decorative knot}} right|thumb|Croatian interlace
The '''Croatian interlace''' or '''Croatian wattle''', known as the '''{{lang|hr|pleter}}''' or '''{{lang|hr|troplet}}''' in Croatian, is a type of interlace, most characteristic for its three-ribbon pattern. It is one of the most often used patterns of Croatian pre-Romanesque art and architecture.<ref name="ENCI">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Pleterna ornamentika |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/pleterna-ornamentika |encyclopedia=Croatian Encyclopaedia |publisher=LZMK |year=2013 |access-date=15 February 2025}}</ref>
==Overview== It is found on and within churches as well as monasteries built in early medieval Duchy of Croatia and Kingdom of Croatia between the 9th and beginning of the 12th century, with examples counting in "hundreds", making Croatia country with highest concentration of interlace in general in Europe.<ref name="Ivancevic1999">{{cite book |last=Ivančević |first=Radovan |date=1999 |chapter=The Pre-Romanesque in Croatia - A question of interpretation |title=Croatia in the Early Middle Ages: A Cultural Survey |editor=Ivan Supičić |url=https://archive.org/details/croatiainearlymi0000unse |language=en |location=London, Zagreb |publisher=Philip Wilson Publishers, AGM & HAZU |isbn=0856674990 |pages=429–431}}</ref>
The interlaces in Croatia are dominated by double and triple ribbons.<ref name="Ivancevic1999"/> The ornamental strings were sometimes grouped together with animal and herbal figures. Most representative examples of inscriptions embellished with the interlace include the Baška tablet, Baptismal font of Prince Višeslav and the Branimir Inscription. Other notable examples are located near Knin, in Ždrapanj and Žavić by the Bribir settlement, Rižinice near Solin and in Split and Zadar.
==Origin== There is a scholarly debate about the origin and identity of the regional three-ribbon interlace, some considering it as Croatian "national expression", other arguing Lombardic influence (introduced by the Patriarchate of Aquileia), but such exclusive models are problematic.<ref name="Ivancevic1999"/><ref name="Petricioli">{{cite book |last=Petricioli |first=Ivo |date=1999 |chapter=Sculpture from the 8th to the 11th century |title=Croatia in the Early Middle Ages: A Cultural Survey |editor=Ivan Supičić |url=https://archive.org/details/croatiainearlymi0000unse |language=en |location=London, Zagreb |publisher=Philip Wilson Publishers, AGM & HAZU |isbn=0856674990 |pages=475–491}}</ref>
==Modern== Croatia has a civil and military decoration called the Order of the Croatian Interlace.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/274157.html| language = hr| title = Pravilnik Reda hrvatskog pletera| author = Croatian President| author-link = Croatian President| publisher = Narodne novine 2000/108| date = 2000-11-03| access-date = 2010-05-31}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Greda i zabat s natpisom kneza Branimira 879.jpg|Inscription of duke Branimir, 879–892 File:Archeological Museum of Zadar.jpg|Pluteus from the 9th century<ref name="Petricioli"/> File:Archeological museum of Zadar 7.jpg|Pluteus from the 9th century<ref name="ENCI"/> File:10cent pleter Drzislav.jpg|Inscription of king Stephen Držislav, mid-10th century File:Archeological museum of Zadar 26.jpg|Part of pluteus from the 11th century<ref name="Petricioli"/> File:Reljef splitska krstionica.jpg|Font from the late-11th century (most likely a depiction of Petar Krešimir IV or Demetrius Zvonimir) File:Bascanska ploca.jpg|Baška tablet File:EscudoUstacha.svg|Emblem of the Ustaše, a former fascist and ultranationalist organization, as displayed on the state symbols of the Independent State of Croatia File:Seal of Armed Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Croatia.png|Croatian interlace bordering the Seal of Armed Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Croatia File:Križ na ušću Vuke u Dunav u Vukovaru.jpg|Croatian interlace on the Cross at the confluence of the Vuka and Danube in Vukovar
</gallery>
== See also == * National symbols of Croatia * Interlace (art)
== References == {{Commons category|Croatian wattle}} {{Reflist}}
{{Croatia topics|state=collapsed}}
Category:Medieval history of Croatia Category:Culture of Croatia Category:Decorative knots Category:Stone sculptures in Croatia Category:Visual motifs
{{Croatia-hist-stub}}