The Celtic or interlacing knot pattern is found as early 300 BCE, in Roman floor mosaics. There is no evidence however of this motif in pre CE Ireland. Are we to then assume that the Celtic knot is not of Irish origin? Maybe. Or maybe not.Spiral patterns, as well as key and step patterns, were strong design elements in Celtic art preceding the Christian influence on Ireland which began in the 4th century BCE. From there these patterns found their way in the early Christian illuminated manuscripts where they were combined with delicate lettering, flowers, plants and animals to create some of the most beautiful books ever produced.
It is difficult to say exactly what the knot represented in antiquity but because of its prominent placement on Irish and other western European headstones and monuments we can assume that it had a symbolic as well as decorative significance in those cultures. Looking at the Celtic knot through modern eyes we cannot help but to see the similarity with the figure eight eternity sign current used in mathematics and elsewhere.
Did the early Celts have a concept of eternity? I'm sure that some scholars can answer that question but in my opinion the Celts had their own concept of the eternal. Not in a mathematical sense perhaps but in a way that was practical but no less profound. Their culture and others of that time had a keen appreciation of cycles and seasons and the endlessness of nature. Something we as modern people, insulated in houses and offices, no longer appreciate fully. In my opinion, it is our loss.
On this St. Patrick's day I hope that it anyone reading this will do more than drink and wear green beads and funny hats. Listen to Irish music. Go outside and look at the stars or the grass turning green underneath your feet. Think about the cycle of days and weeks and life. Really appreciate what it is and what it meant to be not only Irish but Celt.
I found a really lovely estate sale necklace this weekend. Although I didn't know this when I snapped it up, it is made by Bergere (accent mark over the 2nd e) a company doing business from the 1940s to 70s and is well worth collecting.
magazine placements featuring a wide variety of necklace and bracelet designs. It was sold at high quality department stores such as Nordstroms, Lord & Taylor and Marshall Fields. The company name was most likely inspired by the Bergere Folies a French opera house of its fame and popularity from the 1890s through the 1920s. Considered scandalous in its day it is still operational as of 2009.
I've been busy. Mostly ordering supplies and designing. I have a few things planned. Am ready to move on to spring and summer pieces but have a commission for a necklace and bracelet to finish first. The necklace is similar to the heart necklace, which has been well received but not sold, and a matching bracelet. The new necklace will have purple and red Swarovski's, fresh water pearls, and gold fill as opposed to the vintage chain used in the heart necklace. The bracelet will be similar but with a 3 strand memory wire. I chose memory wire for the bracelet because it will be an attention getter.
The new necklace was supposed to be done for Valentines. Instead it was finished last night. Still better late than never. And I like it. And there is always next year too, of course. Also I can still list it in my etsy shop as well as my website.
My friend Dan and I are both into metal. Not the music. Real metal. I am now using copper. He is making knives, shaping them actually, but there is a lot you have to know. His thing is more interesting, but that's always the case!
Boho is fashion. Intricate tiered earrings, bangle bracelets, hippie skirts. If you are into clothes or jewelry, you know what it is. Not everyone can wear it, but when someone wears it well, it is enchanting and romantic and that was what I set out to write about in this article. Surprisingly I find I have written about a thousand years of history which is by far the better story.
Boho in the modern sense owes its existence to the romantic notion of the Roma , a people not only seen as happy nomads but as a group outside conventional society and it is this position and societal outcasts that struck a chord in the mid 18th century. In this period, artists in France - the country of Renoir, Hugo, Matisse and Rodin - were historically excluded from society and thought of as badly educated and common. In the turbulent times surrounding the French revolution however privileged people began to associate with artists and themselves pursued art which served to both legitimize the vocation and the people who were part of it. Still feeling like outsiders, artists began to think of themselves as Boheme and the resulting free spirited lifestyle became an important aspect of the Romantic movement.
The first thing I want to say about Weebly is that it really does offer completely free web hosting. There is an available upgrade, of course, but the basic plan is free. No cash. No ads. No pop ups. No anoying Weebly banner. The site has a good reputation, too, and has been around for some time. It was listed near the top of Time Magazines 50 best websites in 07 and seems to be holding its own. I transferred my dot come to the site last night and am feeling pretty good about it. This is my URL: bijoulerie.com if you'd like to see how it came out.
When I was 17 I attended a Bill Blass fashion show. Not because I did those things ordinarily but because someone who did had invited me. There was a reception before the show with champagne and huge perfect strawberries and the show itself was wonderful. We saw some truly beautiful gowns that day. The only one I remember however was red. Not just any red but a rich vivid red, truer than the strawberries at the reception, brighter than any tropical flower I could imagine. This gown trailed decadently on the floor, a long sweep of scarlet, vibrant in spotlights. If you want a man to notice you, Bill Blass said, wear red.
