Amber Laine

• .925 sterling silver
• Pendant measures 1 1/2" x 5/8"
• Classic Celtic theme
• Typically ships next business day
• Chain not included

Celtic Jewelry

These days you don't have to look far to find all kinds of jewelry worked into the complex, abstract swirling designs, sometimes paired with vivid colored stones, that make us think of Celtic art, making it easy for you to take part in the long tradition of Celtic heritage in a timeless and fashionable way.

Celtic Art

Celtic art can be tricky to define. It has a long history – going back as far as 1000 BC! The characteristic geometric shapes and swirls, including spirals and what are called "Celtic knots," go back to the beginning of Celtic art and culture and are found mainly in metalwork and jewelry, which the Celts were unusually skilled with. The Celts today are associated strongly with Ireland and parts of Great Britain, but in truth, the Celts were a vast and divergent group of people who spanned many areas of Western Europe. Because it's been around for such a long time, Celtic art has been through many phases and subjected to many influences from different cultures, making modern Celtic art the perfect pairing for a wide variety of contemporary jewelry.

Celtic art has been intriguing folks for centuries! It has remained popular all through the years, even bringing together Pagan and Christian cultures. It would be more accurate to call this phase of Celtic art "Insular art," since it refers to the art from Ireland and parts of Great Britain that influenced the revival of interest in Celtic art in the late 1700s which has carried on even today. Jewelry today frequently uses the geometric, graphical shapes and key patterns, spirals, and interweaving knots and vibrant colors that were popularized in the Celtic revival. Celtic jewelry tends to be ornamental, avoiding straight lines and symmetry, working in stylized vine designs and animal figures. Some people love to speculate on the symbolism of Celtic designs, but the truth is that since the Celts culture was oral, we have no written records to tell us what that symbolism may have been.

Celtic Knots

Celtic knots are easily the most recognizable feature of Celtic art. They probably made their first appearance before the influence of Christianity on the Celts, in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, but they reached their height in the middle ages. Celtic knots are sometimes called eternity knots, because their characteristic feature is the fact that they are made up of swirling, interweaving lines that have no beginning or end. A popular shape is the "trinity knot," which features a celtic knot with three distinct points. Some people speculate this shape symbolized the christian trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit, while others speculate that each point refers to the pagan trinity of Mother, Maiden, and Crone. Nobody knows for sure, but the shape of Celtic knots and the idea behind them are intriguing anyway!