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Celtic charm and Claddagh classics

Celtic jewellery design has endured for millennia and still fascinates us today because of its intricate patterns, romantic connotations and strong symbolism. The beautiful interwoven knots and delicately shaped symbols are timeless, linking us to history whilst providing a stylish embellishment to any modern outfit, remaining as relevant today as a thousand years ago.
Author: Gemma Gemondo	Article Tools:

The Celts developed a strong style that has endured to this day. Their earliest pieces were items such as neck torcs and decorative brooches which have been adapted over the years to suit the tastes of the time whilst still remaining true to their origins. Torcs were worn by warriors in battle and the design of twisted bands of metal was believed to protect the wearer. As this was often the only thing that was worn in battle, it was definitely a good luck charm as opposed to offering any form of physical protection! The design is still used today in neck torcs but has been mainly scaled down to be a more practical bangle.

Myths and legends of brave heroes and great battles celebrated in old and modern literature, illustrated manuscripts, paintings, artefacts and, of course, in the art of the storyteller have all contributed to the romance of the bygone era that Celtic design belongs to. Combined with the intricate, mesmerising patterns and strong symbolism, Celtic jewellery has romantic connotations that make the pieces ideal as love tokens and wedding rings.

All the Celtic tribes believed strongly in the interconnectedness of all life and it is presumed that their interlaced patterns reflected this belief. Although some of the meanings have been lost to time, the Celtic knot, in particular, is seen as a symbol of the timeless nature of the human spirit, a representation of infinite cycles in nature and of everlasting, unending love. A piece of jewellery displaying the Celtic knot can, therefore, be given as a good luck charm – to wish the wearer a stable and uninterrupted life free from mishaps and misadventures – or as a token of true and eternal love.

The Trinity knot or Triquetra, which has been found in many Celtic artforms right across Northern Europe may originally have been a symbol of Odin but it was soon incorporated into the Christian religion as the three pointed symbol as it could easily be interpreted as a symbol of the Holy Trinity.
The Celtic cross is again steeped in history and symbolism and pre-dates Christianity by many years. They are not, then, simply crosses embellished with Celtic knot-work but have a number of more ancient and subtle meanings. The original crosses were made of four arms of equal length and are thought to represent the four elements – earth, air, fire and water – against a circular motif that stood as a symbol of eternity and the path of the sun across the sky. After the introduction of Christianity, the Celtic cross was merged with the Christian cross and the design changed to make the lower limb more elongated.

The Claddagh is not as ancient as many Celtic designs but is still full of myth and legend. Again its origins are shrouded in mystery but it is believed that a young man called Richard Joyce from Galway designed the first as a tribute to his sweetheart who had remained true to him during his years of captivity at the hands of pirates. Sold into slavery, he was bought by a Moorish jeweller and trained in the art of goldsmithing. On earning his freedom, he returned home to Ireland to his true love and made her the Claddagh ring. Galway is also the home of the small fishing village of Claddagh, meaning ‘flat, stony shore’ and is likely to be the home of the young man and the reason for the design’s name.

The design consists of two hands clasping a heart and a crown – the heart representing love, the crown meaning loyalty and the hands conveying friendship. As well as the symbolism of the different elements, the way of wearing a Claddagh design ring is also significant. As a wedding or engagement ring, it is worn on the left hand but, when worn on the right, with the heart facing away from the wearer, it shows the wearer is looking for love and on the right, pointing towards the wearer, that they are not.

Celtic design is, therefore, a very versatile style and can be given and worn as a love token, a token of friendship, a celebration of faith or spirituality, a link to our ancestry or simply as a beautiful piece of jewellery. At www.celticandcladdagh.co.uk you will find a charming collection of Celtic and Claddagh designs with many unusual variations of materials, gems and settings to make those classic designs really special.

About Author

Gemma represents and writes for Gemondo, a UK based online retailer suppling the largest choice of quality jewellery on the web. With many years of experience in the jewellery business and a keen interest in the history and future of jewellery design, she has a wealth of knowledge. Look out for her helpful articles on all things jewellery or check out the sites - http://www.gemondo.com and www.celticandcladdagh.co.uk

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