Walker Metalsmiths Blog

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Book of Kells, Book Review, Celtic Art, Celtic History, Donncha MacGabhann, Insular Art, Manuscripts, Pictish, Trinity College Dublin, Victoria Whitworth

The Book of Kells - a review

Sep 06, 2026

Stephen Walker reviews three modern books on the Book of Kells: the 1990 facsimile, Victoria Whitworth's 2025 study, and Donncha MacGabhann's two-artist theory. Continue reading

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Celtic Art, Celtic Cross, Celtic Design, Celtic History, Celtic Jewelry History, Celtic Revival, High Crosses, Iona, Knotwork, Victorian Revival

Celtic Revival Crosses

Mar 02, 2026

How the Celtic Cross went from 334 years of near-silence to the most recognized Celtic symbol — Stephen Walker traces the 19th-century revival that put it back in stone, and in jewelry. Continue reading

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Book of Kells, Celtic, Celtic Art, Celtic History, Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Symbolism, Trinity Knot, Triquetra

Discussion 1 comment

The Triquetra: What Does the Celtic Trinity Knot Really Mean?

Feb 23, 2026

Stephen Walker traces the triquetra from the Book of Kells to the Celtic Revival. The history, symbolism, and enduring meaning of the Celtic trinity knot. Continue reading

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art, book of kells, celtic, celtic brooch, Celtic Cross, Celtic Cross History, Celtic designer, Celtic Festivals, celtic heart, celtic heritage, Celtic History, celtic jewelry, celtic jewelry for the holidays, celtic jewelry pieces, celtic pendant, Celtic Pendants, celtic revival, Celtic Symbolism, celtic traditions, half penny, handcrafted celtic jewelry, handcrafted cross, handmade jewelry, History, irish, irish art, irish heritage, irish history, irish holiday, irish jewelry, Irish Saint, irish shamrock, Irish symbolism, jewelry, Meaning of Celtic Symbols, Shamrock, st patrick coin, st patrick half penny, st patricks day, St. Patrick, St. Patrick's cross

Discussion 1 comment

Embracing Shamrockery

Mar 10, 2021

Master craftsman Stephen Walker shares his transformation from dismissing shamrocks as kitsch to embracing them as authentic symbols of Irish heritage. Discover the shamrock's journey from 1641 coins to famine-era emigration, and why it crosses cultural and sectarian divides as a true emblem of Irish identity. Continue reading

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celtic, Celtic Cross, Celtic Cross History, celtic crosses, Celtic Festivals, Celtic History, celtic jewelry, celtic jewelry pieces, celtic pendant, Celtic Pendants, Celtic Symbolism, celtic traditions, handcrafted celtic jewelry, handcrafted custom Celtic jewelry, Meaning of Celtic Symbols, St. Brigid, St. Brigid's Cross

Celebrating St. Brigid's Day Traditions

Jan 27, 2021

Discover the ancient Celtic tradition of St. Brigid's crosses, woven from grass and reeds to invoke Brigid's blessing on the home. Learn about the saint herself—one of Ireland's three patrons—and how Walker Metalsmiths honors her February 1st feast day with handcrafted jewelry designs. Continue reading

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Aberdeenshire, celtic, Celtic Cross, Celtic Cross History, celtic crosses, Celtic designer, Celtic History, celtic jewelry, celtic jewelry pieces, celtic pendant, Celtic Pendants, Celtic Symbolism, celtic traditions, cross, handcrafted celtic jewelry, handcrafted cross, handmade jewelry, jewelry design, key patterns, Maiden stone, meaning, Meaning of Celtic Symbols, Medieval metal work, metalwork, pectoral cross, pendant, Ruth Black, Stephen Walker, sterling silver, sterling silver cross, Symbolism, symbolism in art, walker metalsmiths

Discussion 3 comments

Celtic and Pictish Key Patterns; the other kind of Celtic design

Nov 05, 2020

The Picts were a medieval society that inhabited northeast Scotland in the 3rd to 10th centuries. Their mysterious history has been difficult for scholars to understand due to a lack of surviving written records, but the Picts have left an enormous record carved in stone. The style of their monuments puts them firmly in the greater Celtic culture, showing artistic themes closely kin to the sculpture, metalwork, and manuscript art of the contemporary Irish. Continue reading

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Celtic Cross, celtic crosses, Celtic Festivals, Celtic History, celtic jewelry, celtic pendant, Samhain custom jewelry

The Celtic Origins of Halloween

Oct 14, 2020

Halloween has ancient Celtic roots in Samhain, the fire festival of October 31. Discover spirit beliefs, bonfires, Jack-o-lanterns, and how Irish immigrants shaped modern Halloween. Continue reading

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Celtic Cross, Celtic History, celtic jewelry

April is the Month of An Giblean and Other Celtic Spring Traditions

Apr 28, 2020

In traditional Celtic society, the months weren’t as rigidly structures as they are today. Months were more like seasons, and April was a month of new growth and renewal called An Giblean. Continue reading

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art, book of kells, Catherine Crowe, celtic, celtic calligraphy, Celtic Cross, Celtic Cross History, Celtic designer, Celtic History, fiber artists, History, irish art, key patterns, Local Events, meaning, Meaning of Celtic Symbols, Michael Carroll, Mike King, Ruth Black, Scotty MacCrea, Stephen Walker, symbolism in art

International Celtic Artists’ Conference in Andover, NY

Apr 05, 2019

For years I thought it would be a great thing if Celtic artists working in the present could come together and meet to exchange ideas and inspiration. Now with the help of my friends, this is going to happen, very soon and right here in... Continue reading

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Brigid of Kildare, Celtic Cross, Celtic History, celtic jewelry, Celtic Symbolism, feast of St Brigid, handmade jewelry, History, imbolc, Irish Saint, jewelry design, kildare, new designs, St. Brigid, St. Brigid's Cross

Discussion 1 comment

St. Brigid's Day & Imbolc

Jan 31, 2019

Some things are seasonal. Some work isn't meant to be done everyday, but only at special times of year. Perhaps it's just nice to try to feel in tune with natural rhythms and accept that some things are only for now. St. Brigid's Day... Continue reading

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