Musings, ramblings and thought provoking articles from our team of talented writers - all views expressed are their own!
When the topic of ancient Irish jewelry comes up, people tend to think of the Tara brooch, but brooches and cloak pins aren’t the only ornaments the ancient peoples of Ireland wore. Our fashion-conscious ancestors apparently wore earrings too. The National Museum of Ireland owns earrings dating back to 800 – 700 BC – centuries […]
It is getting to be that time of year again! For those who like to start early with their Christmas shopping it’s a great idea to get in on some gifts that have diamonds. Contrary to belief, not all diamonds have to be super expensive or flashy. In fact, they can be worn to business gatherings, churches, social occasions and parties […]
That chill in the air means it is just about Aran sweater time. The leaves and the rain are falling, and while it can be quite pretty to look at, it can also be cold and damp. And there is always something a bit sad about putting away the summer clothes. The one thing that […]
It’s hard to say how the love of the jewelry begins. A psychoanalyst could make a sound argument for the associations formed between necklace and mother or father (some dads wear chains!). And it’s almost iconic—the image of the toddler, held aloft in mom’s arms, necklace in teething mouth, drool droplets spattered about but as […]
Knots don’t always get much respect. Think about how we use the word. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. My stomach’s in knots. Not much good about knots in those phrases. But when you are talking about jewelry and design, Ireland wrote the book on knots, and the whole world wants to read it… […]
Have you ever noticed how often the number three features in all things Irish? Yes, we have 40 shades of green and the four ancient provinces of Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connaught are known as the four green fields, but three is much bigger than that. Three pops up again and again and again. The […]
A birthstone is different from a gemstone, right? George Frederick Kunz, author of The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, writes eloquently about this: “There can be no doubt that the owner of a ring or an ornament set with a natal stone is impressed with the idea of possessing something more intimately associated with his […]
There’s a reason Irish jewelry is so beautiful. Practice does make perfect, and we’ve been at this metalwork business a good few centuries now. Lots of people are curious about their roots, but what about the roots of their Claddagh ring or Triple Spiral pendant? They have some pretty amazing ancestors too, and they are […]
“Stand, watch, listen.” In one of the best examples—cinematic or otherwise—of complexity in the mundane, we have the glorious Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. In less than the time it takes to microwave popcorn, Streep’s character marshals together history and perspective into something that deflates pomposity and makes you feel […]
The more astute may have noticed that both the Irish government and a particularly popular purveyor of a brand of stout associated with this island both use a harp as a symbol. It isn’t the same harp, mind you, due to copyright laws, but these aren’t the only examples of the harp as a symbol […]
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