STERLING SILVER IRISH CLADDAGH JEWELRY
Sterling silver Irish Claddagh jewelry is one of the most rich and culturally significant jewelry symbols in all of specialty jewelry. It is the most popular type of Irish Jewelry aside from Irish rings which are also made from the Irish Claddagh.
Why is the Irish Claddagh so popular and rich in sterling silver irish jewelry circles? Why is the Irish Claddagh symbol so popular world wide in specialty jewelry?
The answer lies in the story of the Irish claddagh and the meaning behind the Claddagh.
The Irish Claddagh symbol consists of a heart held by two hands. The heart is wearing a crown. The meaning of the symbols that make up the Claddagh are as follows: The pair of hands means friendship. The heart means love, of course. and the crown means loyalty and fidelity.
The story of the Irish Claddagh Jewelry Symbol:
It is difficult to separate fact from fiction in the history of the Irish Claddagh. What we do know by scholarly studies is the name of the Claddagh comes from a fishing village in Ireland called Claddagh. Claddagh is a beach area in the western part of Galway, Ireland.
It was in Claddagh that the first Claddagh ring was said to have been made. The Claddagh ring was first made sometime in the 17th century during the reign of Queen Mary II or the reign of King William III.
Some of the oldest Claddagh rings to been traced back to CLaddagh Ireland bear the mark and initials of Richard Joyce.
The story of how Richard Joyce created the Claddagh symbol is as much legend as it is history. The story says that Richard Joyce who lived in Claddagh Ireland, which was a small fishing village left Claddagh which is where the river Corrib meets Galway bay, on a ship bound to the plantations of the West Indies. That same week he was supposed to be married.
The ship Joyce was traveling on was captured by Mediterranean Algerian pirates and the crew and Richard Joyce were sold as slaves. Joyce was sold to a Moorish goldsmith who trained Richard in his craft. Richard Joyce became a master in the goldsmith trade.
While working for the Moorish goldsmith Richd Joyce crafted a ring for the women he was supposed to marry. He could not forget her. She was the inspiration to the design of the Claddagh Ring.
In 1689 British slaves including Richd Joyce were released by pressure from King William III. The story goes that the Moorish Goldsmith offered Richard half of his wealth and his only daughters hand in marriage if he would stay. Joyce refused and went back home to Claddagh, Ireland. A gold Claddagh ring in hand.
Richard returned home and found his fiancé had never married. Richard gave her the ring and they were married. He set up a goldsmith shop in his home town of Claddagh, Ireland.
The Claddagh ring was predominately a local ring in the Irish regions until the late 1800's. Some suggest the great potato famine of 1847-1849 where 1000's of Irish people made a vast exodus, mostly to America and other Western locales.
These determined Irish folk kept the Claddagh ring symbolism going and tradition was that the mother past it down to the first married daughter when she was married. This made the Claddagh ring a heirloom that was worn with great pride.
Irish jewelry has two major elements. The type of jewelry that depicts Irish culture and the type that reflects Ireland’s Celtic heritage. It is not uncommon to blend Irish elements and Celtic elements together. Even with the Claddagh symbol which has gone past a ring symbol to its own catagory of jewelry. Now we have a Claddagh jewelry genre, Celtic elements can be found.
The rich meaning of the Irish Claddagh symbol makes it a perfect choice for all gift giving occasions like Christmas, Valentines Day, Mothers Day and Birthdays. Classic sterling silver Claddagh jewelry makes a perfect Irish Celtic gift that can symbolize anything from Irish heritage to romantic commitment and everything in between.
In Claddagh jewelry the two most popular ways to wear the Claddagh is with a sterling silver Claddagh necklace or with sterling silver Irish Claddagh rings.
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