Celtic Signs

"Puppy Crazies" is my interpretation of a design from the Book of Kells. I called it "Puppy Crazies" because we have three dogs at our house. They have a strange behavior when they are feeling very happy and energetic. That is, they will chase each other round-and-round the house! The one in the front will run with its rmp low and its tail tucked. Then at some time they will stop, bark at one another, the one being chased becomes the chaser and they will run round-and-round the house in the other direction. We call this behavior "Puppy Crazies."

Every time I carve any design it turns out a little different. Every carving is unique. Even so, I will limit my carving to 50 copies of this design.

This carving is available in finished cherry with a copper band (pictured) and natural rough sawn oak with a black steel band (not pictured). Finished cherry is $3,200 and the natural oak is $2,600. This price is for a brand new carving. Please contact me for delivery times. I do have one finished cherry carving in stock. You are welcome to ask about special pricing for this show sample.

The carving is solid cherry from the mountains of Western North Carolina. The stain on this carving is a reddish color to enhance the color of the wood. The finish is at least 10 coats of semi-gloss urethane. Cherry is a beautiful wood that will darken and turn more red as the years progress. The binding on this carving is solid copper and is attached firmly to the wood. The back side of this carving is reinforced with another strong wood with grains that run at 90 degrees to the grain in the carved cherry. The binding and reinforced back will stabilize the carving for centuries to come.

There is a very sturdy, hand woven wire securely attached for hanging. The name "Puppy Crazies", date of completion, series number and signature of the carver are engraved into the back of the piece.

I called this carving "Doing Theology" because it reminds me of some experiences I have had in my community of faith. Sometimes there are some of us who have very strong convictions about what we believe and we get all tangled up with each other as we live together in love and serve God in our community of faith. You may notice these "beard pullers" are not necessarily in conflict. They are pulling their own beards and not the beards of their neighbors in this rendering. To me that means they are really thinking about the dialogue they are having. There has been a lot of speculation about what the scribes living on the Isle of Iona when it was copied, it seems to me that the "Doing Theology" interpretation is natural. When I first saw this design I thought the characters had on very colorful suits. Right away I realized that these are not suits but tattoos! The single cord border around the four beard pullers does not appear around this design in the Book of Kells. I added that because I thought it looked nice.

Every time I carve any design it turns out a little different. Every carving is unique. Even so, I will limit my carvings to 50 copies of this design.

The cherry is from the mountains of Western North Carolina. The darker background colors are stain and wood burning. The stain is dark brown to match the color of the wood burning. The finished cherry has at least 10 coats of semi-gloss urethane. Cherry is a beautiful wood that will darken and turn more red as the years progress. The finished cherry carving has a solid cherry frame with beautiful "sap" streaks down the sides.

The natural oak carving is also from the mountains of Western North Carolina. It is naturally air cured, rough sawn and slightly weathered. The natural oak has a steel binding that is welded at the corners and securly attached to the wood.

The backs are all reinforced with another strong wood with grains that run at 90 degrees to the grain in the face of the carving. The frame or binding and reinforced back will stabalize the carving for centuries to come.

There is a very sturdy, hand woven wire that is securely attached for hanging. The name "Doing Theology," date of completion, series number and signature of the carver are engraved into the back of the piece.

Finished cherry is $5,000 and the natural oak is $3,400. This price is for a brand new carving. Please contact me for delivery times. I do have one finished cherry carving and one natural oak in stock. You are welcome to ask about special pricing for show samples.

Many scholars believe that the frequent use of peacock designs in the Book of Kells suggests the incorruptible nature of Jesus Christ. The necks and tails are woven together with simple elegance. I think these birds are peacocks. Some people think they are cranes. That's fine, to me they look like peacocks.

This is the most popular design among my Celtic art carvings. It has been carved for wall hanging art and architectural applications. This design has been used in a decorative application under the eve of a roof. One person was turning his basement into an Irish pub. There was a steel post in the room just at the entrance. He boxed in the post and used one panel facing the entrance. Another customer was building a new post-and-beam home. He ordered a post with four of these designs facing north, south, east, and west that would mark the boundary between the kitchen and the great room.

"Kells Peacocks" are available in natural oak, $500; polyurethane finished red oak, $800; spar urethane finished oak (exterior), $800; and finished cherry, $1,000. All other details are similar to above.

As I think about what this design means I continue in my theme of people living together in the community of faith. Now, these three fellows are definetly shaking hands. It is my understanding that in early medieval times they did not always shake hands like we do today. It is my understanding that they usually grasped one another's wrists. It is a good thing to see three people in agreement within a community of faith.

To the best of my knowledge, the oldest copy of this design is in the Book of Kells. This design is available in natural oak with a steel binding, $2,400. A carving painted by Wendy Davis will be available soon.

All other details of this carving are the same as "Doing Theology" above.

"Running to God" ~ 34" x 34" ~ Limited Number of 50

I think of these characters as people who are traveling together on a spiritual journey. Each runner is pulled forward by the one before him and helps to pull along the one behind. I see a lot of movement in this design.

This design is my own interpretation of one of the panels on a High Cross at Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The details of construction are the same as "Doing Theology" above".

"Running to God" is available in solid finished cherry with a cherry frame, $3,600; natural oak with black steel binding, $2,400. Very soon there will be a carved and painted version of this carving. The painting is being completed by Wendy Davis, a recognized professional artist from Yadkinville, N.C.

All other details of this design are the same as "Doing Theology" above.

Individual Celtic Knots and Other Carvings

All designs here are in stock for immediate delivery.
Please enter the size you want and your stain preference in the information box at checkout.

Meigle Knot. As best I can learn, the oldest rendering of this knot is on a stone in a church yard in the Scottish highlands. Available in brown with brown trim or green with brown trim. Wire hanger, back not finished. Small: 7" x 7" x 7", Medium: 8" x 8", Large: 10" x 10". $25.

King Solomon Knot. In early medieval times this design was referred to as "King Solomon Knot." Later it was referred to as the "Josephine Knot" and today is often referred to as the "Love Knot" or "Friendship Knot." Available in brown with brown trim or green with brown trim. Wire hanger, back not finished. 8" x 8". $20.

Barrochan Knot. This beautiful square design is formed by interweaving four Trinity Knots. As best I can learn, the oldest rendering is on a stone in a church yard in the Scottish highlands. Available in brown with brown trim or green with brown trim. 8" x 8". $25.

High Heath Cross. Comtemporary design. Green with brown trim or all brown. Small: 7" x 9", Large: 7.5" x 11". $25.

Kilcullen Cross. This design is an interpretation of a high cross from Kilcullen, Ireland. Green with brown trim or all brown. 7.x" x 9". $25.

Highland Rose Thistle. Contemporary design based on thistles that grow wild here in the mountains of North Carolina. Green with lavender flower and brown trim. 6" x 8". $20.

Gillies. Contemporary design. Black with brown trim. Please indicate Scot Gillies or Irish Gillies in the information box at checkout. 10" x 12". $30.

Red Rampant Lion. Red with brown trim. 6.5" x 8". $20.

Wales Dragon. Red with brown trim or green with brown trim. Small" 5" x 6", Large: 8" x 10". $20.

Hummingbird and Trumpet Flower. Green with brick red hummingbird throat. Brick or lavender flowers. 7" x 10". $20.

This 28" x 40" rectangle was made by joining four 7" panels.

24" x 9". Many customers like this "setting sun" shape. You may choose a circle, oval, square or other irregular shape. Many states have a distinctive shape that also works well.

Celtic Signs look very nice on beach and lake cottages.

Some of my most creative pieces have been made by carving the most distinctive image from clan crests.

It often makes a very interesting presentation to send the carver a snapshot of the ridge view of your home.

Notice that this sign is carved in a log style lettering. You may custom order your sign in any lettering style you choose.

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Welcome Value	The Artist	Show Schedule	Price Info	Order Info