Celtic Love Knot Designs

Celtic knots are a variety of endless knots adopted by the ancient Celts who used them for decoration. The knot is perhaps most well known by their adaptation in the ornamentation of Christian icons and manuscripts.

History and Significance

Celtic love knots first appeared in the 3rd or 4th centuries AD having their origin in the art work of the later Roman Empire. Many patterns can still be seen today on Roman floor mosaics.

The Celts perfected spirals, step patterns and key patterns in their motifs before the Christian influence in about 450 AD changed this. From then on this Celtic form of art was used by early Christians to decorate their manuscripts, adding depictions from life such as animals and plants. These early patterns were called plaits and it is these intricately interwoven cords that are most commonly associated with the Celts.

In fact plait work predates knot work having its origins in Northern Italy and Southern Gaul before spreading to Ireland in around the 7th century. Today Celtic love knot work patterns are a form of national identify and pride for many who live in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Eight elementary knots have been identified that form the basis of almost all the patterns of this Celtic art work, but there is no evidence that these knots have any religious or philosophical significance except that it shows the intricate work humans are capable of.

Symbolism

Celtic love knot patterns consist of complete loops that have neither a beginning nor an end. Often animals are found interlacing these cords and any Celtic designer capable of more sophisticated knot work will never leave a loose end on a strand unless it stylised into an element of a spiral.

In the language of love Celtic knot work defies literal translation; its meaning should instead be looked for in a deeper level. The crossings which are repeated often depict the physical and the spiritual, expressed in the interlacing of the knots while the strand that has beginning and no end represents the permanence and continuance of life, love and faith.

Many ancient knots do not have a single path but rather several closed paths that are woven together and these can be seen as a metaphor for the interwoven-ness of life and it is these patterns that are frequently referred to as love knots.

Celtic Art carries with it a secret language that today makes it so fascinating and many believe the myth that every detail of Celtic art is symbolic, yet many myths carry with them a lesson about truth, so the symbolism that has been lost of the centuries is kept alive by those who study the old traditions and who help keep them alive today.

Love Knot patterns

The love knot represents two people bound by love, depicted by two intertwining overhand knots. Lovers exchanged love knots to admit their feelings. Today many variations of design exist, but what they all have in common is that they are a representation of true love.

The Celtic oval or Spiral is the simplest form of love knot which denotes eternity of life; this design dates back to 2500 BCE made by early generations of European, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Celts.

The Triple Drop love knot has three sides which is the embodiment of the three forces of nature being earth, water and fire while one continuous line represents unity, strength, spirit and being.

The Celtic round love knot was much admired by ancient Celts as the other shape indicated the suns orb while the three interlocking spiral knots depicted the three forces of nature. There also exists a Celtic square love knot whose single continuous line embodies love and loyalty; it is believed to have originated in Scotland.

Considered a sign of good fortune the Celtic four love knot has four distinct interlocking circles that represent the four seasons while around the edge are found double lines signifying love or friendship between two people.

Not to be forgotten is the Serpent love knot which was taken from the Irish Book of Kells. This design shows a serpent knot that has intricate patterns which are meant to stand for eternal life.