Celtic High Crosses

Celtic High Crosses

Celtic High CrossesThe Celtic High Cross is one of the best known symbols of Ireland. Found throughout Ireland on old monastic sites, most Irish High Crosses have the shape of the ringed Celtic cross. Along with the Book of Kells and Book of Durrow, these high crosses are Ireland’s biggest contribution to the Western European Art of the Middle Ages and represent some of the finest examples of early medieval sculpture from Ireland.

There was an early medieval tradition of raising large sculpted stone crosses, cut from sandstone or granite and richly decorated which probably developed from earlier traditions using wood and metal and earlier pagan Celtic memorial stones. Their relief decoration is a mixture of religious figures and sections of decoration such as knotwork and interlace, styles found in the illuminated manuscripts and metalwork.

Early examples carried only geometric Irish Celtic symbols and patterns but the majority of scriptural crosses are believed to have been erected around the 9th and 10th centuries when scenes from the bible began to be sculpted.

The period between the 9th and 12th centuries AD included the high point of Irish art referred to as the "Golden Age of Ireland". The High Crosses are some of the greatest examples of how powerful religious communities supported and encouraged art in early Christian Ireland.

The Celtic High Cross range of chokers comprises 12 different High Crosses from around Ireland. Chokers are pewter on black adjustable full length cord and all come packaged on a display card with legend and a description of the featured cross.