Deciphering the meaning of the Triskele or Triple Spiral

The Triskele or Triple Spiral symbol appears in many ancient cultures and is also visible in the astronomical calendar in Newgrange's megalithic tomb which dates back to 3200 BC. The symbol is often associated with ancient Celtic jewelry and culture but, in fact, it originates from a time before then.

The Triskele is a complex symbol and commonly labelled as one of the most convoluted for specialist symbolists to decipher as it is believed that it is has a number of different meanings and references from the ancient Celtic era.

The Tara Brooch - An iconic piece of early Christian Celtic jewelry

Ancient Irish Celtic jewelry and design has always inspired the craftsmen of today with a wealth of discovered artifacts over the years. Probably the most recognizable example of early Christian craftsmanship is the Tara Brooch. The Tara Brooch is an elaborately decorated Celtic brooch, discovered in 1850, which has been dated back to approximately 700 AD and is generally considered to be possibly the foremost example of this era of over 50 elaborate Irish brooches to have been discovered. It was found in 1850 and rapidly recognized as one of the most important works of early Christian Irish Insular art; it is now displayed in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

This early Christian pseudo-penannular brooch is approximately seven inches in length and is made composed of silver-gilt embellished with ornate decoration. It is suggested that the brooch was made from many pieces which were all put together to form the final masterpiece. It was made in many pieces, with much of the decoration on small "trays" or panels which were then fixed into place. When it was found only one panel of decoration was missing, but several more have now disappeared, apparently before 1872, when it entered the collection of the Royal Irish Academy, who later transferred their collection of antiquities to the new National Museum.

The design, the techniques of workmanship (including filigree and inlaying) and the gold, silver, copper, amber and glass are all of high quality, and exemplify the advanced state of the Irish goldsmith trade during the course of the seventh century. The brooch has a pseudo-penannular form. Like most brooches of the period, it contains neither Christian nor pagan religious motifs, and was made for a wealthy patron, almost certainly male, who wanted a personal expression of status. It is probably the most spectacular, and one of the best preserved, of several dozen high-status brooches found throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, but more commonly in Ireland. Although similar in style, each has a completely individual design in detail. Precious metals are used, but only semiprecious stones.

The name "Tara Brooch" would infer a direct link with the Hill of Tara, which was historically the seat for the High Kings of Ireland, however, the Tara Brooch has no discernible connection with the Hill of Tara or in fact the Hugh Kings of Ireland. The brooch, following its discovering on a beach in County Meath back in 1850, was given the title "Tara Brooch" as a way of creating a link with the majesty of High Kings of Ireland. The exact meaning and history of this Celtic jewelry ornament is still not fully understood. 

The emergence of Celtic revival jewelry in the late 19th century saw the Tara Brooch used as an inspiration to replicas and imitations. During the 1870's, the brooch passed into the possession of the National Museum of Ireland.

The Tara Brooch design and mystic continues to the design of Celtic jewelry to this day, with many modern stylists using this now popular Irish symbol within the designs of Celtic pendants, personalized Celtic jewelry and unique Irish gifts. The brooch became a popular piece of Celtic Jewelry that was worn by both men and women due to the practical purpose they fulfilled in fastening caps, cloaks and other clothing.

St. Brigid's legacy in Celtic craftsmanship and design

St Brigid is a revered and fondly thought of figure in Irish history and Christian mythology. Her influence has even crossed into the realms of Celtic jewelry design and appearance such as Celtic pendants and Celtic Cross jewelry.

Also referred to as “Mary of the Gael”, St. Brigid is patroness of Ireland and also founder of the first Irish monastery in Kildare. Born in Dundalk in 450 A.D, St Brigid is closely associated with the creation of a truly unique ornamental cross that has since been named after her. This unique Irish cross is typically constructed from rushes but it is also not uncommon for it to be made from straw.

The mystical power of St Brigid’s Cross, woven rushes, is its power to repel evil, fire and hunger from the homes in which it is displayed. The exact details of the cross' creation are unclear with no definitive explanation of just how it came into being.

The tale as we know it is revolves around an old pagan Irish Chieftain who lay delirious on his deathbed in Kildare; it is rumoured that he was in fact the father of St. Brigid. Brigid was summed to his beside in the hope that the saintly woman could intervene and cure the Chieftain from certain death. 

Brigid is said to have sat at his bedside, consoling and calming him and it is here that she picked up the rushes from the floor and began weaving them into the distinctive cross pattern. Whilst she weaved, she explained the meaning of the cross to the sick Chieftain and it is thought her calming words brought peace to his soul, and that he was so enamoured by her words that the old Chieftain requested he was baptised as a Christian just before his passing.

Ever since that fateful day and for countless generations that followed, it has been customary on the eve of her Feat Day (1st February) for Irish people to fashion a St Brigid Cross of straw or rushes and place it inside the house over the door. Many Irish people used to send the rush cross to their family and friends overseas as traditional Irish gifts to remind them of the Emerald Isle and help keep them safe from danger and misfortune.

This rush cross, which has since been commonly referred to as St Brigid’s emblem, has been used in Irish designs throughout history, with many modern stylists using this now popular Irish symbol within the designs of Celtic jewelry and unique gifts from Ireland.

The mystic of the Trinity Knot in Celtic Jewelry

As a familiar symbol of celtic and Irish jewelry, the Triquetra (also known as the Trinity Knot) originally referred to a "triangle" shape and was commonly used in reference to a range of three-cornered shapes. 

More recently,, it has come to exclusively signify a particular more complex shape which is formed of three vesicae piscis, which is often complimented by an additional circle in or surrounding the symbol. Within the realm of Celtic knot jewelry the symbol is more commonly known as the "trinity knot," and the design often utilized as a religious symbol by both those of the Christian faith and polytheists.

The Trinity Knot can often be spotted on various forms of Insular celtic artwork, especially on pieces of  celtic metal work and in illuminated manuscripts such as the much loved Book of Kells. 

Early Christian artwork such as celtic crosses and slabs often bear the Trinity Knot symbol. The symbol was rarely used as a standalone piece within the medieval celtic artwork and was often integrated in with other design elements.

Over the last century, the symbol has seen a revival in Celtic art and the knot has been recognized as singular symbol that has been used as a sign of special things and persons as a triumvirate. At Blarney Woollen Mills, our extensive range of celtic knot jewelry includes many celtic earrings and celtic pendants which are beautifully ornamented with the Trinity Knot symbol and can often make ideal Irish gifts.

The significance of the Celtic Pendant

Celtic Jewelry can be traced back to a very distant past roughly during the period bwteen 2000 BC and 550 AD when silver and gold was used by Celtic craftsmen to create exceptional pieces of jewelry decorated with a variety of Celtic symbols. Celtic pendants were one of the earliest types of bodily adornment to be crafted by these ancient civilizations.

The word pendant orignates from the French word "pendre" and also the Latin "pendere" which translates as "to hang down". Pendants are a loose-hanging piece of jewelry which tend to be attached to a necklace by a small loop. This piece of Celtic jewelry can also be referred to as a "pendant necklace".

Pendants as pieces of Celtic jewelry can serve a variety of functions, which can also be combined:

• Award ( for example the Order of CúChulainn)
• Identification
• Ornamentation
• Ostentation
• Protection
• Self-affirmation

There are a multitude of specialized variations of pendants in use today including lockets which open and pendilia, which hang from larger objects of metalwork.

There is a wide range of Celtic pendants available from Blarney.com making the perfect Irish gifts and also a great piece of jewelry to accentuate any outfit. These pendants are expertly handcrafted from Sterling Silver or gold or even traditional Irish bog oak.

As ornate pieces of Celtic jewelry, they evoke the rich and varied history of the anicent Celtic world by utlising the various symbols of that period such as Celtic crosses, shamrocks, trinity knots, claddaghs, trinities and such. The Blarney collection is populated with a variety of works by Ireland's finest Celtic jewellers.