Celtic Art and its influence in modern day Celtic Jewellery

Celtic Art and its influence in modern day Celtic Jewellery

A condensed history of celtic art and symbolism and there meaning.

Celtic symbolism was influenced by the many people they came in contact with such as Egyptians and the Vikings. When they encountered the Greeks they were known as the 'Keltoi' and in more familiar terms as the 'Gauls' in ancient Rome. This is how it came that the celts inhabited many parts of Europe from the 8th century to 1 AD.

The occupation of Europe was in two parts. Firstly between 750 and 450 BC in a region called Hallstatt that we know as Austria. They then settled successfully in France, Britain, Spain and Italy. In the years from 450BC to 50AD the second period covered a time of occupying Switzerland.

It was the Greeks and Romans that have taught us most about the Celts in earlier times as they both traded with them and kept books. The Celts themselves did not write anything down. We have however learnt from archaeological digs that they made there own cooking tools, weapons, pottery and also jewellery. Once the celts flourished more time was available in evolving there creative cultures such as art and craft. They became adept in working with gold, silver, bronze and iron. It is from these beginnings that celtic jewellery developed into the intricate designs we are used to  seeing today. There was a high level of skill used to create beautiful items such as armour and jewellery which were used for trading.

Celtic designers used iron compasses to create the varied designs however they were all based on circles intersecting one another. Wax was used to model the design on the object first to create a mold from clay which liquid bronze was poured into and left to set.

The celtic designs were influenced from the animal kingdom and plant. Shapes were crafted to looklike branches and most famously the symbol of the Isle of Man, the three legged symbol.

The celtic culture eventually transpired into christianity and there creative talents were used for religious books, most famously the Book of Kells. The beautiful designs were decorated in pictoral images in order to convey the word of god to those unable to read.