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Valentine’s Day Jewelry Part 2: Celtic Knots

Post a Comment January 16, 2009 – 5:18 pm | Share and Save | Permalink |  Print This Post |

For those uninterested in traditional heart-shaped Valentine’s Day jewelry, a Celtic or Love Knot is great for its symbolism of eternal love.   Basically a love knot is an interwoven loop that has no beginning or end.  The intent is to imply eternity, faithfulness, and enduring love.  There is much discussion and speculation of where the concept began, but the knot pattern has been depicted in Roman mosaics, Byzantine architecture and Medieval European manuscripts.  Early on, Arabic women living in strict Muslim households, sent secret messages of love woven into carpets.  Their beloved would read the hidden message by turning the knot around and around.

Diamond Knot Ring

Diamond Heart Band

More often though, the eternal knot style is attributed to the Celts.  As early as 450 AD, these knots are seen in Celtic books, art and architecture.  Some experts suggest that specific knots have special meaning or intent.  For example, certain symbols could ward off illness, bring good luck or longevity or ensure eternal love.  Others argue that the knots don’t have meaning, just expressed artistic impressions.  Knots could be created from woven threads or metals, carved in wood or stone, or simply drawn.  Knots could also be interwoven with hearts, flowers or other symbols.  Colors could also be interwoven.

Eternal Knots were at one time used as a way to propose marriage.  A young man could leave a love knot on the doorstep of his chosen female.  If she picked it up, it meant that she accepted his proposal.  If she left it lying on the door step, the poor fellow suffered a somewhat public rejection.

Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara

Today, Celtic knots are known by a variety of names including Love Knot, Lover’s Knot, Mystic knot, and Endless knot.  Wedding and engagement rings as well as pendants, bracelets and earrings can be found shaped in eternal knots.  One of the more well known pieces of knot jewelry is the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara.  Queen Elizabeth II presented the stunning piece to Princess Diana as a wedding gift upon her marriage to Prince Charles.  Elizabeth had inherited it from her grandmother, Queen Mary.  The tiara was presumably left to Prince William upon Diana’s death and will someday belong to his queen.