If you’re a fan of Celtic-style art, you’ll recognize it at a glance. You probably own a few items that, though not antiques, still hark back to the rich artistic style developed by the celts. Celtic jewelry is especially popular these days, but you’ll see its signature style in body art, textiles and architecture too. Your immediate assumption would be that Celtic art originated in Ireland, but you’d only be partially correct in this. Ireland was, indeed, the last bastion of the Celtic cultures, but it was by no means the only one. Getting into our time machine and working backwards, and taking a peep at Celtic art principles, here are some little known facts about Celtic art.
1. A 19th Century Archeological Find Sparks Revival
Although a revival in Celtic motifs had already begun earlier in the 19th century, the finding of an exquisitely intricate brooch believed to have been made in the 7th or 8th century turned the trend into a cultural phenomenon. The brooch, dubbed the “Tara” brooch, was not actually found at Tara, but its owner, a jeweler who produced replicas of Celtic brooches, gave it this name to evoke associations with the high kings of old-time Ireland.
It caused a sensation when displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851, as well as at a later exhibition in Dublin where Queen Victoria admired it so much that her husband bought two replicas to add to her jewelry collection. With the royal stamp of approval, Celtic-style brooches, embroidery, textiles, wall art, wood inlays and metalwork became all the rage, and it’s a love-affair that has lasted to this day.
2. The Irish Kept Celtic Art Alive During Romanization
The Celtic world was much larger than just Ireland, but with Roman expansion, all the countries in which Celtic art had flourished, with the exception of Ireland, became Romanized. In general, ordinary people were happy with the security and peace that came with being part of the Roman empire, and since locals were given the opportunity to advance provided they were “civilized” enough, they emulated the Roman style.
Whether it was from a lack of political will, logistics issues, or simply because they didn’t think their conquest would offer material benefits, the Romans never conquered Ireland. Celtic art continued to develop here during a time when it had all-but disappeared elsewhere. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Celtic art experienced a revival in the illumination of scriptural texts, stone Celtic crosses, and Celtic metalwork.
3. Celtic Art Originated in La Tène Culture, Not Ireland
Historians credit the La Tène culture as the originators of Celtic art. La Tène is an archaeological site in Switzerland and the culture that produced the magnificently ornamented weapons and jewelry found there flourished from somewhere around 450 BC, disappearing with Roman expansion. It was a culture that covered a lot of ground, including England, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the south of Germany, central and northern Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, and so on, all the way to the western Ukraine.
You might find yourself wondering how Celtic art and the Celts found their way to Ireland. Only theories exist, but it’s believed that Celts began moving into Ireland from around 500 BC. There was no dramatic change. It was simply a matter of Celtic people gradually moving into Ireland and spreading to become the dominant culture over a period lasting a century or more. It certainly explains how artistic elements like the classic interlace patterns made the journey from Germany, where this stylistic device is rooted, all the way west to Ireland.
4. The Beginnings of Celtic Art are Even Older
Although the La Tène culture is often seen as the first blossoming of Celtic art, many of the ideas implemented during this period have even earlier origins. The Hallstatt culture, named after an archeological site in Austria, was the dominant Western and Central European culture from the 12th century until it was gradually replaced by the La Tène culture.
Although typically Celtic art wasn’t yet fully developed, the wealthy salt mining community at Hallstatt was by no means averse to ornamentation. Weapons, in particular, were decorated with spiral patterns, stylized animals and birds, and geometric designs. Knotwork and fretwork also makes its appearance here and would develop to greater intricacy during the centuries that followed.
5. There are Three Common Types of Patterns in Celtic Art
The cornerstones of Celtic art include four basic design concepts. Tri-spirals which branch out from a central point of which the Triskele spiral is an example, Knots which we often see on Celtic crosses and which consist of interwoven rounded sweeps in a continuous line, and key patterns which contrast with the other two styles in that they consist of straight lines at 45 degree angles to make up a pattern of triangles. A fourth theme less often seen today was the interlacing of figures. For these, stylized representations of humans, birds, reptiles, and animals were used.
6. The Number Three Was Significant to the Celts
It’s interesting to know that the number three, significant in Christianity in the form of the trinity concept, was also important in pre-christian times and across several cultures. To the Celts, the number three represented the three layers of the soul. The trinity of earth, sea, and sky were also seen as spiritually significant and were called upon to witness oaths, and the pagan goddess Brigit is a threefold deity in many versions of her legend. The importance of threes is everywhere to be seen in Celtic art, for example, in the Triskele, and even in more modern Celtic iconography such as the shamrock.
7. Different Celtic Knots Had Special Significance
Today, we admire celtic knots as beautiful designs, but to the Celts, they had special significance. As a result, it’s believed that different types of knots were used by people for “practical” reasons, and not just because they were nice to look at. For example, the simple Trinity knot or triquetra consisting of three intertwined ovals relates to the Celtic belief that the world worked in patterns of three. After the arrival of Christianity, it came to represent the trinity, but in earlier times it still had spiritual and philosophical significance.
When two trinity knots are connected at the arches, you not only have an attractive pattern, but a Serch Bythol knot which is believed to represent the unity between two people. The Dara knot, a complex pattern in the shape of a circle, represents the roots of a tree and with that, has connections with strength, fertility, growth, and a connection with our forefathers. So, if you have a celtic knot design item, do look up its significance, it might resonate with you.
Celtic Art: an Epic History and a Wealth of Significance
Given the sheer area of land that was once dominated by Celtic cultures and the beauty of the artifacts they left behind, it’s not surprising that Celtic motifs and ideas are still with us today. As for the Irish, they kept the art alive and added to its complexity, but they’re by no means the only nation to have a claim to Celtic roots. Visiting Ireland anytime soon? Be sure to look out for those Celtic artworks and appreciate the depth of meaning that lies within them.
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