celtic jewelry
Celtic jewelry designers today have a wealth of resources at their fingertips to create the stunning Celtic jewelry in our collections. But more important than gold, silver and precious stones, is the thousands of years of tradition and design that has influenced our Celtic jewelry designers to create these beautiful pieces. The Irish and Celtic people have an established heritage of metalwork and design with treasures found on the island dating back to the fourth millennium B.C., right up to the present day. With such a long and diverse history it may seem hard to pick out certain pieces that have influenced today’s Celtic jewelry designers, but the Tara Brooch and Ardagh Chalice are undoubtedly two of the most shining examples of this dazzling legacy.
Celtic jewelry for men and women today comes in many shapes, styles and metals, the most popular being silver Celtic jewelry and gold Celtic jewelry; however our Celtic ancestors used bronze, copper and even stone to express themselves in the creation of Irish jewelry, ceremonial weapons and sculpture. Many people today choose Celtic wedding bands inspired by the Ardgah Chalice, such as the stunning rings in our Warrior Collection, or Celtic wedding bands that reflect their Irish heritage and love of Celtic design. Gold and sterling silver Celtic jewelry is purchased today as heirlooms for the future, which will be cherished for generations to come, as we in Ireland today cherish the treasures of our ancestors that have inspired our contemporary Celtic jewelry designers.
celtic jewelry history
There are countless artefacts found in Ireland which both represent and define the nation and its history. Some amazing pieces such as the Bell of Saint Patrick, the Cross of Cong, Derrynaflan Chalice, Fadden More Psalter and among others, the Book of Kells, all show the amazing skill and artistry of the Irish people from the past millennium. We have chosen the Tara Brooch and Ardagh Chalice as two of the most inspirational artefacts from Irish antiquity; from a design and Celtic jewelry point of view they are two of the most awesome, inspiring our Celtic jewelry designers to create stunning pieces in honor of these ancient designs.
The Tara Brooch is one of Ireland’s greatest national treasures, created around the 8thcentury, it is generally believed to be one of the most beautiful and important pieces of Irish Celtic, Christian art found in Ireland. The stunning piece of Celtic jewelry consists of gold-plated silver which is elaborately decorated on both faces. The front is adorned with a series of fine gold filigree knot work panels showing animals and abstract symbols, separated by studs of enamel, glass and amber. It consists of many pieces with much of the decoration on small panels which were then fixed together. The intricate design shows the pinnacle of Irish workmanship, drawing on the craftsmanship and design of the Celts with the merging and changing Irish people.
The brooch was found in County Meath in 1850 by a child playing on the seashore and sold for a few pence by a poor woman to an antique dealer. The brooch is named after the Hill of Tara, the seat of the High Kings and Queens of Ireland, although the piece has no connection 
with Tara; it was named the ‘Tara Brooch’ by the antique dealer who wanted to increase its value by associating it with the legendary High Seat. At the end of the 19th century the Celtic Revival was taking place in Ireland and Europe, launching the Tara Brooch as the mascot of this era. At the end of the 19th century Celtic jewelry had become very fashionable and the discovery of the brooch came at the perfect time. Copies of the Tara Brooch emerged and were a must-have item at the time; even Queen Victoria wore replicas of Celtic brooches. The brooch became a symbol of the Irish cultural revival as it represented a time in Ireland of great creativity and high culture; answering Victorian prejudice of Irish backwardness.
In Ireland, brooches were worn by men and women of high-status to show off their position in society and even on high crosses of the time Jesus and the Virgin Mary are wearing Tara-style brooches! The brooch shows off the pinnacle of Irish craftsmanship and design, reflecting a time when Ireland and its changing nation were at the height of its self-confidence; integrating Celtic and Christian traditions into the design that would inspire future Celtic jewelry designers to emulate and recreate this enduringly stunning Celtic brooch.
ardagh chalice
Another piece of Celtic design that has greatly influenced Celtic jewelry designers around the world is the Ardagh Chalice. Made of over 350 individual pieces and standing only 18cm high, this silver chalice was crafted in the 8th century and is decorated with gold filigree, multi-colored enamel stones, a large rock-crystal, amber and various metal objects. Designs on the vessel include animals, human heads, filigree scrolls, coiled serpents, and even the name of the twelve apostles are engraved in a script similar to manuscripts of the time. Considered the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the exhibitions in the National Museum of Ireland in the heart of Dublin, the Ardagh Chalice is the finest example of Irish design and metalwork. Made of silver, bronze and gold; the design and decoration show a technical proficiency which is unsurpassable.
The artefact was found in 1868, along with a smaller bronze chalice and four decorative brooches, by two men digging for potatoes in Ardagh, County Limerick. The owner of the land sold the hoard to the Bishop of Limerick for £50 who in turn sold it to the Royal Irish Academy for £500. There is very little known as to the exact origins of the chalice, precisely why it was made, or what was the reason for it being hidden in Ardagh. Whatever its provenance, the beauty of the relic is evident; the splendour lies in the juxtaposition of the plain silver and the enamelled, ornately decorated gold. The amazing Ardagh Chalice has inspired Celtic jewelry designers to create stunning jewelry in honor of the ancient Irish metal workers and designers. A wonderful collection inspired by the Chalice is our Warrior Collection of Celtic jewelry; encompassing the beauty and heritage of Ireland’s most treasured piece of art with the innovative style and passion of our Celtic jewelry designers.
the legacy of celtic jewelry
The treasures held in museums all over Ireland go back millennia, representing Ireland’s long and diverse history; pieces ranging from Celtic jewelry and ornaments to relics and religious artefacts. Reflecting the Pagan Celts and Christian Irish, Ireland’s national treasures are among some of the most interesting in the world because of this cross over and merging of the two worlds. This stunning history has inspired our Celtic jewelry designers to create the superb collections of Celtic jewelry. Drawing on the legacy of design, metal working and passion for creativity of our Irish ancestors, Celtic jewelry designers and even Scottish jewelry designers today create pieces that honor our collective past. Celtic jewelry such as our Cashel Brooch or the wedding bands in our Warrior Collection, encompass the ancient Irish treasures with our 21st century styles; creating a family heirloom sure to span generations.
