The History Of Celtic Jewelry

Jewelry from Celtic times trace its roots from the second millennium BC to the first century BC, Celt - a member of an early Indo-European people had spread over much of Europe creating an art form that is both unique and timeless. The Celts believed in reincarnation i.e. continuous rebirth until complete spiritual fulfillment is achieved. This jewelry created by Celts and dedicated to Celtic symbolism is the immortal and priceless gift to human civilization. Celtic symbolism has continued to generate interest among people even today and surprisingly is still much sought after. Many of the ancient religious beliefs that gave rise to various designs have survived. Just as Celtic Earth Earrings reveal the wearer's connection to the Earth, so do Celtic bracelets decorated with the Celtic "Endless knot" design symbolizes everlasting life and love. There are clearly many indications in the Pagan mythology that show that Celtic jewelry played an important role in their society. Quite often it even determined the social standing of the Celts. Modern connoisseurs are able to achieve somehow their social distinction using, inter alia, Celtic jewelry. No wonder it catches the fancy and delights so many hearts. Celtic craftsmen adapted ideas from nature to produce intricate designs based on simple motifs using gold, bronze, and silver. They created wonderful and sophisticated ornaments. Spirals, Animal Motifs and Crosses were woven into Celtic knot work designs. These knot work designs were crafted into rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches and pendants. They were traded across the Mediterranean because of their beauty and craftsmanship. These knots symbolized their understanding of the various spiritual levels in the search of purification of the soul. Behind such symbolism lie many interesting tales such as that the Irish believed in an otherworld, imagined sometimes as underground and sometimes as islands in the sea. The otherworld was believed to be a country where there was no sickness, old age, or death, where happiness lasted forever, and a hundred years was one day. Two Celtic styles emerged, one characterized by stylized animal elements and the other by a series of abstract shapes and patterns. The spirals used in many designs are thought to be derived from the snail and were frequently carved into rock and jewelry. The spiral symbolizes the continuity of life and spiritual growth. It is the constant flow of nature's processes moving outward then back inward as Heaven and Earth are joined. The cross symbolizes the bridge to other worlds and to higher energy and knowledge. This is realized by the vertical axis (celestial world) and horizontal axis. They are also considered solar symbols - sources of light and ultimate energy. The most popular among the Celtic jewelry are earrings, pendants, brooches, and bracelets. These are of various types and shapes, usually made of metals. Based on their beliefs and ideas, Celts used many designs and types suiting every specific purpose. Many Celtic legends refer to the birth of deities and heroic figures. In to-days world, birth charms are very much adored in any collection of Celtic jewelry.

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