Symbols of Ireland

Ireland has a very rich heritage along with old traditions and symbols. With St Patrick's Day fast approaching, we look into the meanings behind the symbols of Ireland.

Shamrock
Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. According to legend, the shamrock was a sacred plant to the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad, and three was a mystical number in the Celtic religion, as it is in many others.

Vintage shamrock charm, available from Good Time Antiques

Entrée dish with shamrock design lid, Birmingham 1910, available from Goldsmith & Perris

Spurrier & Co napkin Ring, Birmingham 1906, available from Goldsmith & Perris

Harp
The Irish harp was featured on the Coat of Arms because King James was not only the ruler of England but of Ireland as well. The harp has also been synonymous with Guinness since 1862, when it was used as a symbol on the first bottle label for Guinness. It is because of the harp trademark that Guinness named its first lager 'Harp' in 1960.

Harp charm, available from Good Time Antiques

Green
Green is the national colour of Ireland, which is known as “The Emerald Isle”. On St Patrick's Day, it is customary to wear shamrocks, green clothing or green accessories. St. Patrick's revelers thought wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns, who would pinch anyone not wearing green!

"Genie bottle" by Empoli c1960s, available from Robinson Antiques

1950s evening bag with matching headband, available from June Victor 

The London St Patrick's Day Festival 2018, a three-day cultural and community festival across London will kick off today, Friday 16. More details here.

Colour of the Year: Green

Pantone have announced that the colour of 2017 is green, also known as "15-0343 Greenery". The highly influential colour-matching firm said that "Greenery" will be the dominant shade in fashion and design for the next 12 months. 

In fashion it provides a pop of colour in accessories and shoes, or as a bold accent in pattern. The theme for home decor and interiors this year is all about bringing the outside, inside. 

Pantone’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman puts it this way: “Greenery symbolises the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”

With this in mind, we picked some items from various dealers in luscious shades of green.

Vintage green & white gingham shirt, available from Dispensary Vintage

Urnaium decanter set 1930s, available from Beth

1940s knife sharpener, available from Paola & Iaia - The Originals

‘The Garden of the Golden Orb’ by Ronald Morton, available from Robert McKoy Fine Arts

Shell shaped Murano glass, with shades of green and gold leaf. c1955, available from Robinson Antiques

1920s Leaf necklace, available from Carole Collier