Thursday, March 12, 2009

Two-Tone Celtic Jewelry History and Overview

Rivaled only by the ancient Egyptians in craftsmanship and uniqueness of design, Celtic jewelry dates back before the time of Christ and the word enchanting is the term that always comes to mind when thinking about the designs in general. Human beings have been fascinated by the mysterious and the mystical for centuries. Of particular interest has always been the two-tone jewelry design that the Celts were so well known for.

Serving as a reminder of ancient Celtic rituals, this jewelry boasts a rich history and flaunts a proud tradition. Two-tone jewelry has become the more popular as far as composition and design of the more modern jewelry items is concerned, with yellow and white gold being the metals of choice for creating Celtic two-tone jewelry. It is not known as to when the use of the two metals originated, but the design and use of the two types of gold still holds true today. This is especially the case where the Celtic wedding jewelry you oftentimes find online is concerned as both are constructed in similar fashion.

Certain pieces of personal jewelry such as bangles, brooches, collars, fibulae, Lunulae, and torques were designed mostly from gold and silver, and were prominent between 2,000 and 500 B.C. Many of these excellent pieces of jewelry craftsmanship are on display at the National Museum of Ireland, and you will see how much a part of their design and look is of a two-tone nature. The art of making two-tone Celtic jewelry is still one of the most significant styles in global jewelry history.

You’ll often notice the use of crosses and spirals in most Celtic design. The Celtic cross pre-dates the Christian cross and the spiral was a symbol for eternity so it is no wonder why the Celts used these two designs as prominently as they did. Celtic jewelry was also an instrument of the trading world at one time, with trades as far away as some Mediterranean villages in ancient times. This accounts for finding two-tone Celtic jewelry in such far away lands.

The responsibilities of the craft was later taken into the hands of the Irish monks and created some fantastic pieces of art during their endeavors. Examples of some of the crosses that they designed and created can be seen in such historical books as the Books of Durrow, Kells, and Lindisfarned --- probably some of the most sacred and treasured manuscripts ever written. It is no secret that some of the world’s greatest artistic craftsmanship is found in pieces like the chalices, crosiers, and the numerous pieces of jewelry they created.

In earlier times, Celtic peoples were found scattered throughout Europe as well as the British Isles, which was where the earliest Celtic jewelry originated. However, with the onset of Roman occupation and influence, the Celts were forced out of their homes and relocated in more remote areas of the time. Most of them fled to the areas of Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. But despite all the hardships that the Celts endured for centuries, their jewelry is a testimony to the fact that they survived their stormy past.

Further Reading:
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For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Celtic Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Celtic-Jewellery/

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