The Celts have a legendary tradition that includes many aspects for which they are known today. It is easy to find more information on their love of nature, their fighting skills, and their innumerable creations, which include religious artifacts and symbols, their metal works, and their jewelry made of bronze, gold, amber, and several other materials. Even today, modern artists and designers find plenty of inspiration from the natural patterns and elements characteristic of Celtic jewelry.
What Were Typical Pieces of Jewelry Worn by the Celts?
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Based on a series of archaeological finds, these are the types of jewels preferred by the Celts:
Torcs
Torcs are chokers made from precious metals. They indicated power by the person who wore them. Both men and women could wear torcs. People firmly believed that the gods both wore these pieces of jewelry and blessed those who wore them. Usually, it was the warriors and clan chiefs who wore torcs.
Archeologists have discovered many beautiful torcs, but the Snettisham Great Torc and the Broighter Hoard are the most well-known.
Brooches
Just as with torcs, both men and women wore brooches. These beautiful jewelry pieces were made from various metals such as silver, gold, or bronze, and their purpose was to fasten a cloak around the shoulders of the wearer. Many have been found which depict animals, sometimes in their entirety, and some others just their heads. The Tara Brooch, one of the best-known Celtic brooches, is believed to have been crafted around 700 AD and is a true representation of the creativity that the Celts possessed.
Pendants
As the most traditional piece of jewelry worn by the Celts, pendants were meant to be used as protective shields. Symbols displayed on these pendants include representations of plants and animals and more famous ones such as the tree of life, the Celtic cross, the Celtic knot, and the triskele, the oldest Celtic symbol.
Hair Accessories
The Celts loved accessorizing their hair by placing on it ornaments made from a variety of materials. It was common to wear hair pins or combs made from bone or horn, as well as hollow golden balls at the end of their braids. People who belonged to the upper classes were known to wear circlets on their foreheads or tiaras on their heads.
Earrings, Bracelets, and Rings
The ancient Celts enjoyed wearing bracelets, armbands, and earrings. Bangles made of gold were placed around the legs just above the ankles. These pieces were made from iron, bronze, silver, or gold and were worn by both women and men.
Some of the most famous Celtic jewels are the Claddagh rings and the Irish Gimmel. However, these jewels date back only 300 years, making them more recent than other pieces. It was only after the Celts integrated the Roman influence into their way of life that they started wearing rings. Nowadays, you can find delicate jewelry pieces influenced by this unique design style.
