Entries from May 2007 ↓

This is a classic Russian wedding style bangle - it is three silver bangles linked. 

The weight of the bangle is a solid 23 1/2 grams, they’re made of solid sterling silver and the internal diameter is 6.5cm, the width of each bangle is 3.5mm and the depth is 1.3mm (all sizes are approx.)

You can see more in the silver bangle category of our site or click here to see more info and to buy the Russian wedding bangle.

Martin

Technorati Tags: bangle, russian, wedding

Claddagh jewellery is a newer type of Celtic jewellery that has come out of Ireland in the recent years. Recent years begin in the past 300-500 years. This is fairly recent when considering how old some of the other ancient designs for jewelry are. The Claddagh jewelry has many myths surrounding the origin of where it came from. As most of the Celtic culture’s jewelry and stories, there are many different accounts and it is hard to pick the correct one.

The Claddagh jewellery design is a design that has a heart that is being grasped by two hands and contains a crown on the top of it. The stories tell about a man that is kidnapped and tries to get build a ring a gold while he is in captivity so that he can give the ring to a girl that he loves when he returns to Ireland if she waited for him. Strangely enough, the story does end with the woman waiting for him and he gives her the ring. This story is the story that most people stick to because the Claddagh jewellery is supposed to represent love and happiness as well as patience and hope.

The Claddagh jewellery even has its own way of starting relationships. The Claddagh ring can be worn on the right hand with the crown showing out or showing in. if the crown is showing in then the person is still searching for their true love. If the ring is showing out then the person has the feeling that they have found their true love. If the ring is worn on the other hand, than it is the same symbol as being married.

Claddagh jewellery is a unique type of jewellery that is filled with stories. Not very many types of jewellery can be found that has so many meanings just by how it is worn.

The cross of the Celts and Celtic Christianity is a sign of beauty and also a bearer of many meanings. It resembles a traditional Christian cross, with a circle drawn around the joints of the two arms of the cross. It is commonly referred to as the Irish Cross or the Cross of Iona (both an island and a Gaelic name).

One possible meaning if the cross is the unity of two types of belief systems. The cross symbolizes Christian faith, while the circle symbolizes a pagan moon Goddess. This coincides with the Irish legend, that St. Patrick introduced this symbol when trying to convert the pagan people of the Emerald Isle. Some say that the circle actually represents the Sun, another strong symbol in the pagan belief system.

Many time the cross and circle motif is only just part of the picture. Intricate designs and carvings are prominent on Celtic crosses. One such motif is an interweaving thread, actually interviewing figures of eight, which symbolize order, chaos, death and rebirth. As you can see, four again.

The symbol, in some form or another, actually dates back long-long before Christianity. The reason is, that a cross has arms facing four ways. This could mean four elements, four navigational directions, and so on. The circle is another ancient symbol, associated with perfection, even the ancient Egyptians used it.

Regretfully in modern times the Celtic cross symbol has been abused, and used by radical political parties. Usually they simplify the cross and circle motif by just drawing a circle with a “plus sign” inside, extending outward (often referred to as the sun cross). The link between the symbol and radicalism has become so strong that in Italy they have banned it from being publicly shown in stadiums.

Technorati Tags: celtic cross