TheCroatian interlace orCroatian wattle, known as thepleter ortroplet inCroatian, is a type ofinterlace, most characteristic for its three-ribbon pattern. It is one of the most often used patterns ofCroatian pre-Romanesque art and architecture.[1]
It is found on and withinchurches as well asmonasteries built inearly medievalDuchy of Croatia andKingdom 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.[2]
The interlaces in Croatia are dominated by double and triple ribbons.[2] The ornamental strings were sometimes grouped together with animal and herbal figures. Most representative examples of inscriptions embellished with the interlace include theBaška tablet,Baptismal font of Prince Višeslav and theBranimir Inscription. Other notable examples are located nearKnin, in Ždrapanj and Žavić by theBribir settlement, Rižinice nearSolin and inSplit andZadar.
There is a scholarly debate about the origin and identity of the regional three-ribbon interlace, some considering it as Croatian "national expression", other arguingLombardic influence (introduced by thePatriarchate of Aquileia), but such exclusive models are problematic.[2][3]
Croatia has a civil and military decoration called theOrder of the Croatian Interlace.[4]
![Pluteus from the 9th century[3]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aArcheological_Museum_of_Zadar.jpg)
![Pluteus from the 9th century[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aArcheological_museum_of_Zadar_7.jpg)
![Part of pluteus from the 11th century[3]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aArcheological_museum_of_Zadar_26.jpg)
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