History And Folklore Commemorated in Celtic Artistry

Released on = July 1, 2005, 7:09 pm

Press Release Author = Nick Volpe

Industry = Retail

Press Release Summary = McHarp combines Celtic Art with history in collectible works of home décor wall plaques and crosses for the home, garden or the office work place.

Press Release Body = Succasunna, NJ -- July 04, 2005 -- In today’s fast paced world people look for instant culture, instant sophistication, and instant connection to their past and heritage. We look to impress and speculate how others view our environment, our homes, striving to get that right look, that special connection to our family’s past. We recently discovered a company, McHarp, Inc., whose home décor products offers a connection routed in ancestral heritage.

Nothing expresses our history more than that of the monuments we erect to honor it. To learn and absorb all it has to offer, exploring our faith and spirituality with the hope of understanding the mysteries of our world. We seek to give deeper meaning to our lives in an effort to stay connected to our legacy and to fully
understand our pasts that are steeped in history.

One such lineage immersed in tradition and faith is that of the Celts. The stone crosses in Scotland and Ireland are a continuation of a long tradition of the Celtic practice of standing stone monoliths, Stone Henge being a structure that exemplifies such a monolith.

This being said, McHarp’s dedication to the history; art, symbolism and meaning of the Celtic heritage is sure to inspire you to embrace their art form. McHarp Inc. is
a company whose passion and artistry exemplify the incredible beauty of such monoliths found throughout Ireland, Scotland, Britain, and Whales. This mother /
daughter team, Ruth McNay and Linda Harp, came to be from a twenty year pottery and sculpture business. Together they design and create each piece that grew from their interest and studies in Anthropology and many research trips, combined with the recognition of a growing cross industry and their fascination in exploring their own heritage. This mother and daughter team have skillfully reproduced Celtic crosses inspired by the actual carved stone monuments in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and other countries that the Celts are found to have thrived.

The artist first carves designs in clay or wax and then a mold is made from the original carvings. The molds are then cast with a sturdy cast stone material and goes through a six-step process of sealer and color to make each piece look like the original ancient stone sculptures.

The art of the Celts is saturated with symbolism. Some common examples are Knot work, Spirals, and Key patterns. The knot work designs are perhaps the best known and were developed by the Celts to a higher degree than anywhere else in the world. Knot work can be best described as a never ending ribbon knotted together to make a design, conveying the idea of eternal life with God, while the Spiral design emphasizes movement and growth, especially spiritual growth. It conveys the idea of all things revolving around God. Key patterns are usually found in the form of a spiral with angles and represent a pathway or maze to enlightenment.

Celts were extremely art oriented creating stone crosses some as tall as twenty-one feet, carved with tremendous detail on all sides. Irish High Crosses are well known for carved scenes designed to explain stories of the Bible, as well as decorative motifs. In Scotland the cross was incorporated into a cross slab surrounded with animal motifs, knot work, and spiral designs. In Wales a small circle or wheel cross was set on top of a tall thin decorated shaft of geometric designs and knot work. In England tall slender crosses with the tree of life vine scroll design flourished.
The early monks carved designs that were special to them. The designs were a way to glorify God and protect them in the intensely interconnected natural world surrounding them. These magnificent works of art were a shining light in the depths of the dark ages.
In addition to the crosses, McHarp has also created ornaments inspired by the Book of Kells. This magnificent manuscript stretches back more than 1500 years to the 6th century AD and is, quite simply, considered a crowning glory of the Celtic art form,
and possibly one of the most important treasures of Western Europe. The ornaments reflect the rich tapestry of the designs found in the ancient
manuscript. They make wonderful gifts and/or Christmas ornaments. Each ornament averages 3”X5” and are sold individually or as boxed sets.

Another offering from McHarp are decorative wall tiles that are compatible with their extensive collection of Celtic crosses. Each tile is six inches square and is
designed in sets of four, but can be purchased individually. They come in three distinct series, the Gothic Rosette series, the Saints series, and the Gothic Tracery series.

§ The Gothic Rosette Series – are designs that were inspired by Gothic architectural ornament in Nuremberg, Germany. Rosettes were typically the intricately carved stone that covered the juncture of stone ribs of barrel vaulted ceilings and were also
found on other elements such as iron grates and carved wood furniture.

§ The Saint Series – are delightfully stylized carvings of saints of Irish origin. They are found among the many stone carvings and ornaments in the ruins of Jerpoint Abbey, County Kilkenny.

§ The Gothic Tracery Series – the designs are mostly from carved wood choir stalls in St. George’s in the ducal palace at Altenburg, Germany. They remind us of the high Gothic windows of European cathedrals. The designs have so many cutouts; they resemble the lace of medieval manufacture.

Last, but never least, are the Irish Blessing Plaques. Each one of the four delightful greeting plaques have it’s own Irish blessing written on it; Bless this
Dwelling, Bright Flame, Failte (Welcome in Irish), and Home and Heart. These plaques would undoubtedly be a perfect gift for any home décor and can be used anywhere as indoor wall décor, for outdoor decoration in your garden, or as a front door greeting for your guests.

Whether your choose to add to your collecting McHarp’s incredible Celtic crosses, ornaments, wall tiles and/or wall plaques, they are sure to add great beauty and
magnificence to whatever space, or home decor you decide to display them in.

Nick Volpe of NFV Products® is always in search for unique artifacts created from the imagination of the human spirit. Those mentioned within this article are from McHarp Inc. and can be viewed on his website at http://www.nfvproducts.com.

Web Site = http://www.nfvproducts.com

Contact Details = Nick Volpe
NFV Products LLC
4 Pleasant Village Drive
Succasunna, New Jersey 07876
973-927-0315
http://www.nfvproducts.com