Celtic Jewelry

Who Were The Celts?

The Celts comprise a group of people who are descendants from the original 7 Celtic provinces of Western Europe- Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Isle of Man, and Ireland. Generally, the Celts were scattered throughout Europe; consequently universal cultural norms and societal ways are difficult to quantify.

When Did They Live?

The Celts lived alongside the early beginnings of Christianity over two thousand years ago. The word, "Celt" derives from the name, Keltoi- given to all peoples that lived north of the Alps by the ancient Greeks.

How did their Culture Influence Celtic Jewelry?

The Celts did not have a written culture like we have today. Instead, they passed their beliefs, values, and history through an oral tradition. The spoken word and symbolism through artwork was their way of expressing religious beliefs and interpretations of the land, such as seasons, animals, and food that they relied on.

The original designs and symbols we find in Celtic jewelry today reflect those ancient beliefs. The symbols we find in Celtic jewelry have various meanings depending on the tribe, location, time period, and the preferred Celtic Gods. Some Celtic symbols represent the tribe's brotherhood and unity, while others, like the Claddagh ring represents romantic love or marriage between two lovers.

Modern Day Celtic Symbolism and Celtic Art:

There are a collection of Celtic motifs that have been adopted today as symbolic of the different Celtic national identities, including: Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Brittany, and Cornwall. One such symbol is the Triqueta knot, also known as the Trinity Knot. Although there is no concrete knowledge of the meaning of certain Celtic knots, a basic interpretation is that they represent the crossing of our spiritual path with our physical path. Knot work is also said by many to mean eternity or the vast continuum.

Spirals are also a commonly well-know Celtic art motif and date back from 2,500 B.C. Cosmic symbolism abounds in a spiral design, which is a microcosm for other designs in nature: seashells, the whirlpool, the galaxy. These most particularly were used as adornments in the Celtic Iron Age. Along with knot work, spirals have become symbols of the modern Celtic art movement, and are often found patterning jewelry, as well as large stone crosses, known in Ireland as "High Crosses."