February 11, 2010
How To Discover Celtic Knot Designs Through the Ages
Celtic knots are well-known but were you aware that they are not exclusive to the Celts? They in fact appear at an earlier time in history in Roman mosaics and were also used by the Vikings and Saxons. They symbolize patterns made by ropes and threads, intricately woven, not inevitably in the shape of a knot. At times they are unbroken, i.e. without any free ends, when they are called Gordian knots, after the famed knot that Alexander the Great endeavored to unfasten. When he was unsuccessful, as he must be for the knot had no end, he took his sword and sliced it through, cutting it in half so as to produce two ends.
Some Early Uses of Knotwork
Convoluted patterns are found in artwork from the Roman Empire mainly during the third and fourth centuries A.D., mainly in floor mosaics. Prior to the Christian affect on the Celts, i.e. before in the region of 450 A.D., Celtic art work incorporated key patterns, spirals and step patterns. Early Christian texts from the Celts display these patterns as well as more art work depicting plants, animals and other imagery from life. At the outset these patterns patterns of woven plaits were also seen in several other regions and periods. One of the very earliest instances of Celtic knots can be seen in the Gospel book which was produced in in the 7th century in Northern Britain and is at present in the collection at Durham Cathedral.
The Earliest Plaitwork
Plaitwork refers to an uninterrupted woven thread and appears in earlier art work prior to the emergence of genuine Celtic knots. The initial designs distinctive of Celtic knots were seen in southern Gaul and northern Italy and they spread to Ireland by the seventh century. Although we connect this type of knot with the Celts they were also used in other parts of the British Isles and from there carried to other countries of Europe by wandering monks. Nowadays Celtic knots are associated with Scotland, Wales or Ireland.
The Trinity Knot
A famous type of Celtic knot, today called the triquetra or Trinity knot, is often found initially in very early Germanic coins and runes from the northern part of Europe where it was used as a pagan symbol, perhaps associated with the Norse god Odin. The triquetra is linked to the Insular art phase of Celtic and was used in decorated manuscripts, for example, the celebrated Book of Kells, and on metalwork. It was usually used by the side of other kinds of Celtic knots and very rarely used on alone. Even though we don’t know if the triquetra had any symbolic significance to the Celts more recent interpretations have given it a special significance as a representation of things that are threefold, such as as the past, present and future, the Holy Trinity or mother, daughter and granddaughter.
The Use of the Celtic Knot in Contemporary Jewelry
Today the Celtic knot is an admired design in both gold and celtic knot silver jewelry. Many designs and styles are created and Celtic knots can be seen on pendants, wedding bands, earrings, bracelets and rings. The Trinity knot is a common design and the complicated knots so loved by the Celts are in the same way loved by wearers of Celtic knot jewelry nowadays.
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