Walker Metalsmiths Blog

Embracing Shamrockery

Embracing Shamrockery
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

Celebrating St. Brigid's Day Traditions

Celebrating St. Brigid's Day Traditions
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

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

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

International Celtic Artists’ Conference in Andover, NY

International Celtic Artists’ Conference in Andover, NY
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

5 Celtic Traditions for Your Wedding

5 Celtic Traditions for Your Wedding
Whether you're looking to infuse a bit of your family's heritage into your special day or just love the design and symbolism of Celtic knots, these traditions are unique and memorable touches that you may want to include in your wedding whether you're of Celtic ancestry or not! In case you need a little help figuring out what's best for you, here's just a little background on five of the most popular Celtic wedding traditions to help you decide what feels most authentic culturally and appropriate spiritually. Continue reading

Congratulations Graduates!

Congratulations Graduates!
As Steve and Sue prepare to celebrate their youngest child's high school graduation, we thought we'd look back at some of the special gifts Steve created for his children plus a few staff favorites to give you some graduation gift ideas for your own family and friends.   Continue reading

A Project for Lent- Cross of Cong Research

A Project for Lent- Cross of Cong Research
Stephen Walker's experimental project to recreate a lost medieval panel from the 12th century Cross of Cong using traditional Celtic casting techniques. Discover how he applies archaeological research to duplicate intricate bronze decorative panels using clay and cow dung molds—a methodology he'll present at the International Insular Art Conference in Glasgow. Continue reading

The Modern History of Celtic Jewellery: 1840-1980

The Modern History of Celtic Jewellery: 1840-1980
Stephen Walker and three co-authors chronicle 150 years of Celtic jewelry history in this definitive book—from the Victorian Revival in Dublin and Scottish Highlands, through the pioneering Ritchie family of Iona, to the modern Celtic Renaissance. Illustrated with 69 color photographs and 29 black and white images, this is the scholarly foundation for understanding contemporary Celtic design. Continue reading

In Search of Meaning: Symbolism of Celtic Knotwork and Design

In Search of Meaning: Symbolism of Celtic Knotwork and Design
Explore the mystery of Celtic knotwork symbolism. Stephen Walker reveals what art historians say about trinity knots and interlace designs, examines how modern craftsmen created meanings like "endless paths" and continuum, and explains why Celtic art's greatest power lies in its ability to connect past and present through living tradition. Continue reading
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