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Celtic Jewelry Fact @ Jewel Info 4 U
By: Nasrina Parvin Khan
Fashion changed time to time.
But some trends have never been out
of fashion for its stylish look and
uniqueness. Celtic jewelry pattern
is such a popular style, which has
go beyond a long way from 2000 BC
(approximately) to present age.
The idea of Celtic jewelry pattern
came from Traditional Celtic
Artwork. Celtic artwork is the
crafts of ancient Celts who settled
in the Ireland many centuries ago.
Celtic Jewelry History
Celts lived at Lough Cutro Lake in
the country Galway, Ireland. They
were the original people of Ireland
and the history of the country
related to the Celtic history.
Ireland was a place in Europe where
the Romans did not invade. So, the
Celts and their traditions could
survive there for long days.
Celts (who were called gals by
Romans) painted their bodies with
wood dye. They were affectionate
about animal pictures and symbols.
So, they drew animal pictures and
swirl patterns on various parts of
their bodies like today's tattoo.
Celts believed that the symbol of a
certain animal or bird on their
bodies will help them to attain the
characteristics of that creature. A
wolf motifs would give them bravery
and cunning; a hawk would give them
good eyesight as they believe. There
were many animals and birds, which
were used as the subject in Celtic
art. Trees were also the subjects of
Celtic art, which thought to give
them special power. So, they worn
jewelries designed with animal
motifs. Geometric motifs have also a
distinct place in Celtic artwork.
Pentacle and Celtic cross were also
popular symbols of Celtic artwork.
In fact, the Celtic crosses are much
older than Christianity. Claddagh,
the symbol of love and friendship
among the ancient Celts is still
popular.
Celtic Designs
Celtic craftsmen adapted ideas for
Celtic artwork from nature; stone
carvings, some as old as 3000 BC or
from burial sites where usually
jewelries and pots are found.
Though Scotland has many
inspirational sites for Celtic
designs but it seems that the most
inspiring site is Skara Brae in the
Orkney Islands. It is in the far
North East Coast of Scotland. A
large number of patterns have been
taken from the objects found there.
Celts produced intricate designs
based on simple motifs using gold,
silver and bronze. Celtic artwork is
mainly made up of several kinds
interlinked patterns. Many of this
copied today for jewelry making.
Specialties of Celtic jewelry design
were intricate knot works,
interlacements, spirals, and kelk
type initials. Celts used simple
geometric techniques to make these
Celtic patterns. C3eltic craftsmen
created sophisticated, wonderful
ornaments using these methods. It's
astonishing that after the thousands
of years, these patterns are still
popular and have been fashioned into
a wide range of metal jewelry.
Celtic Jewelry Fact
Primarily some Celtic ornamental
patterns, like Celtic knots and
Celtic interlace are used to
decorate bible manuscripts,
monuments (especially Celtic crosses
and cross slabs) and jewelry.
Probably the tradition of knot work
design in manuscript painting came
to Ireland in the middle of the 7th
century by Coptic monks from Egypt
and Syria. The style spread from
Ireland to Scotland, Wales and North
Umbrian to Europe with missionaries
of Celtic church. Some of the design
concepts transform into a more
chaotic style of animal interlace by
the Viking raiders later.
The Celtic style reaches its
greatest development during the
period of 7th to 9th century due to
the greatest influence of Celtic
church in that time. The style
called as Hiberno-Saxon.
Celtic knots are complete loops with
no end or beginning. The structure
of Celtic animal interlace is
similar but the only difference is
that the cords end in feet, heads,
tails etc. the animal patterns are
called Zoo morphs in Celtic style.
A good Celtic artwork will never
have a loose end on a cord unless it
is stylized in a zoomorphic element.
On the other hand Celtic spiral knot
works should be always unending.
Between 2000 BC to 500 AD gold and
silver were used to make beautiful
crafted personal Celtic jewelry.
Jewelries like Lunalae, collars,
fibulae, torques, bangles and
brooches were made wit6h gold and
silver in that time. These Celtic
jewelries were traded across the
Mediterranean because of its beauty
and craftsmanship. We can see the
samples of this range of jewelry on
display in the Museum of Ireland,
today.
Irish monks developed the style of
ancient Celtic jewelry later. Their
wonderful artworks are seen in the
great high crosses and in the books
of Kells, Lindisfarne and Durrow.
The ancient Celtic jewelry patterns
have became an everlasting fashion
in the world's jewelry scenario
because of its stylish and
sophisticated look. These patterns
are very popular in the present day
also. Though the styles and
decorative motifs changed with time.
Alexander Ritchie, born in 1856
considered as the father of the 20th
Century Celtic Jewelry.
Jewelry houses of modern days draw
inspiration from some of the oldest
rock carvings at the monument at New
grange; Knowth in Co Meath, Ireland
and ruins of the abbey and the
famous Irish Celtic/ Christian Book
of Kells and influenced by the
excellent Celtic artworks in silver
and gold in the National Museum of
Ireland in Kildare street of Dublin
and Museums throughout Europe. They
also are recapturing early years
artistic tradition of Celtic jewelry
designs. Details from the wealth of
Celtic Metal Work of the Irish and
the Picts and the Ancient Pre
Christian Britons have been a major
source of designs. Rich and colorful
history of Ireland has a great
influence in Celtic Jewelry pattern.
Every icon, which used in Celtic
Jewelry Making has its own history
to tell.
To make Celtic jewelry the patterns
have been carved deep into wax to
give depth to the Celtic knot work.
After shaping every piece is hand
worked with a fret saw and diamond
setting burrs. Then polished to high
finish.
Usually, Celtic knot work and
interlace designs were woven into
rings, torcs, bracelets, warrior
shield bracelets, earrings,
brooches, pendants, wedding rings
and bands, claddagh rings etc by the
modern designers. These modern days'
Celtic Jewelries have found a
favorite place among the modern
women as well as men.
Celtic Jewelry Stores
Celtic Merchant
All Celtic jewellery
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