With St. Patrick's Day not long behind us, we wanted to take a closer look at our Celtic-inspired jewellery pieces. The four corners of Great Britain: Scotland, Cornwall, Wales, and Northern Ireland, have a Celtic identity. There are many symbols that represent Celtic tradition, many of them with Irish origins.
We've discovered some of these symbols hidden in our jewellery collections. Mystery, romanticism and a little bit of luck can all be found in our Celtic jewellery.
Claddagh
This Irish symbol is a token of love and a traditional Irish wedding ring. The symbol is distinguishable by the two hands clasping a heart with a crown above. Each component represents a different element of a romantic relationship:
Heart - Love
Hands - Friendship
Crown - Loyalty
For anyone that's seen the film 'Leap Year' set in Ireland, you may have noticed the Claddagh ring make a fleeting appearance towards the end of the film.
Today, the Claddagh symbol is appreciated as a symbol of love all over the world and can be found on a variety of jewellery items.
Shamrock
A symbol of luck, the shamrock is the national flower of Ireland associated with the patron saint, St. Patrick. It's believed that St. Patrick referred to the shamrock as a representation of the Christian Holy Trinity (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit).
Trinity Knot
The Trinity Knot, or triquetra, is a three-cornered Irish symbol. The symbol sometimes appears with a circle that represents eternal life.
The trinity knot was popularised by the hit 90s TV show 'Charmed' about three witches living in San Francisco. In the series, the symbol features a spell book, known as the 'book of shadows', and represents the power of three. The Celts believed this symbol represented the significance of three of the earth's elements; earth, water, and air.
Triskele
A lesser-known Celtic symbol, the triskele (or triskelion), features three interlocked spirals. This symbol once again illustrates the significance of three. The Triskele can be found at a number of Irish Neolithic sites, including the Newgrange passage grave.
Welsh Love Spoon
This Welsh romantic tradition is thought to date back to the 17th century. Originally crafted as wooden spoons and carved with symbols to show love or affection. The pendant above is beautifully designed and crafted by Welsh gold jewellery maker, Clogau. The brand is best known for embracing Welsh tradition and the beautiful natural landscape of Wales in its designs.
What do you think of these Celtic jewellery traditions? Discover these Celtic Symbols in our Nomination, House of Lor, and Clogau collections today.
