Irish Tara Ware vintage costume jewelry

Irish Tara Ware vintage costume jewelry
The world famous sacred manuscript known as “The Book of Kells” is the main inspiration for the jewelry design of the Irish jewelry company Tara Ware Ltd. An old Irish manuscript is the most valuable piece of medieval art. The monks did their best to fulfill the murals, decorating each page with illustrations and ornaments. Written in black, red, magenta and yellow ink on parchment, the book contains 340 pages. Unfortunately, another 30 pages were lost.
Enamel jewelry is the art for which the ancient Irish were famous. The subtlety and intricacy of patterns used in jewelry work amaze with exquisite weaves and curls hand painted in bright colors. Using vibrant multicolor Guilloche enamel, copper, bronze and gilding, the craftsmen created medieval Celtic designs depicting birds and snakes. Traditionally, the marking includes the initials “TW” inside shamrock, or word “Tara” on the back. Accompanied by paper tags or postcards, each jewelry piece told a history of ancient Irish jewellery art, “as old as Ireland herself.”
The company produced costume jewelry for five decades, from 1935 to late 1980s.

Irish Tara Ware vintage costume jewelry (1935-80s)