Celtic hounds can be found in Celtic jewelry designs and paintings as far back as the 17th century. Celtic hounds symbolize hunting, healing, and the Otherworld in Celtic legends. Hounds were the traditional guardian animals of roads and crossways and are believed to protect and guide lost souls in the Otherworld.
- Herons, sometimes called Egrets, represent longevity, persistence, and autonomy in Celtic tradition. Some warriors painted Heron on their shields for protection.
Celtic Barrette Celtic Dog and Heron
Each item begins as a piece of sheet metal, copper, bronze, brass or nickel. After a pattern is transferred to the metal, the piece is etched in a salt-water solution. Each piece is hand cut, sanded, and polished. A patina may be applied or it may be hand painted with dye oxide. A clear polymer coating is applied. The Barrette face adheres to a French clip.