| only by the ancient Egyptians in craftsmanship and | | | | You’ll often notice the use of crosses and |
| uniqueness of design, Celtic jewelry dates back | | | | spirals in most Celtic design. The Celtic cross |
| before the time of Christ and the word | | | | pre-dates the Christian cross and the spiral was a |
| enchanting is the term that always comes to | | | | symbol for eternity so it is no wonder why the |
| mind when thinking about the designs in general. | | | | Celts used these two designs as prominently as |
| Human beings have been fascinated by the | | | | they did. Celtic jewelry was also an instrument of |
| mysterious and the mystical for centuries. Of | | | | the trading world at one time, with trades as far |
| particular interest has always been the two-tone | | | | away as some Mediterranean villages in ancient |
| jewelry design that the Celts were so well known | | | | times. This accounts for finding two-tone Celtic |
| for. | | | | jewelry in such far away lands. |
| Serving as a reminder of ancient Celtic rituals, this | | | | The responsibilities of the craft was later taken |
| jewelry boasts a rich history and flaunts a proud | | | | into the hands of the Irish monks and created |
| tradition. Two-tone jewelry has become the more | | | | some fantastic pieces of art during their |
| popular as far as composition and design of the | | | | endeavors. Examples of some of the crosses |
| more modern jewelry items is concerned, with | | | | that they designed and created can be seen in |
| yellow and white gold being the metals of choice | | | | such historical books as the Books of Durrow, |
| for creating Celtic two-tone jewelry. It is not | | | | Kells, and Lindisfarned --- probably some of the |
| known as to when the use of the two metals | | | | most sacred and treasured manuscripts ever |
| originated, but the design and use of the two | | | | written. It is no secret that some of the |
| types of gold still holds true today. This is | | | | world’s greatest artistic craftsmanship is |
| especially the case where the Celtic wedding | | | | found in pieces like the chalices, crosiers, and the |
| jewelry you oftentimes find online is concerned as | | | | numerous pieces of jewelry they created. |
| both are constructed in similar fashion. | | | | In earlier times, Celtic peoples were found |
| Certain pieces of personal jewelry such as | | | | scattered throughout Europe as well as the British |
| bangles, brooches, collars, fibulae, Lunulae, and | | | | Isles, which was where the earliest Celtic jewelry |
| torques were designed mostly from gold and | | | | originated. However, with the onset of Roman |
| silver, and were prominent between 2,000 and | | | | occupation and influence, the Celts were forced |
| 500 B.C. Many of these excellent pieces of | | | | out of their homes and relocated in more remote |
| jewelry craftsmanship are on display at the | | | | areas of the time. Most of them fled to the areas |
| National Museum of Ireland, and you will see how | | | | of Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. But |
| much a part of their design and look is of a | | | | despite all the hardships that the Celts endured |
| two-tone nature. The art of making two-tone | | | | for centuries, their jewelry is a testimony to the |
| Celtic jewelry is still one of the most significant | | | | fact that they survived their stormy past. |
| styles in global jewelry history. | | | | |