Geometric forms using spirals, triangular forms or squares have had symbolic meaning since the earliest human times. They are found in stone age cave paintings, and for thousands of years in jewelry, cult and everyday objects.
Celtic patterns belong to symbolic geometry and were probably in earlier times used like mandalas, for instance as a help for meditation. It is important to observe that they are never dogmatic – celtic patterns can at one and the same time have several different meanings.
They have artfully intertwined lines without beginning or end. Each part is connected with every other part and constantly switches direction. Very often they consist of one line without a break. They can be symmetric or asymmetric, there are spiral forms, plant motives, animal forms or intricate knots and patterns. In earlier times they very often were used to illustrate books. They can also be found engraved in wood, stone or metal, or as landart in the countryside.
Some goldsmiths use celtic forms in their work and there are celtic knots which can be used in leatherwork.
