An ancient and powerful sign which unites horizontal and vertical opposites and takes on particular significance after Christ becoming the dominant symbol of the Christian Church.
This 18th century penal cross is unique to Irish folk art. The arms of the cross are short so that it could easily be hidden up the sleeve.
The symbol of four is powerfully but simply set within the Celtic spiral pattern in this beautiful cross from Durrow, Co. Offaly. It seeks to discipline the forces of Life and contain them against the unknown, offering comfort 108G
This mysterious Celtic Figure adorned a cauldron taken from Ireland by the Vikings.274G
A spiral uncoils into serpents consuming four heads united by the Celtic circle and cross. Linear/rational pattern at base. Suggests the struggle between such opposites as chaos and reason, the conscius and unconscious, man and woman. 104G
The serenity of this elegant Christ figure shows how the Celts saw Him, a noble figure even in the ultimate humility of the cross. It is based on an 8th century bronze plaque from Co Roscommon. 276G
This brings together two of our most ancient symbols, each uniting pairs of opposites: the tree unites earth and heaven; the cross unites the masculine trunk with the horizontal feminine branches, which bear leaves and fruit, holding a promise of the future.