A CELTIC ART GALLERY - THE CELTIC ART OF HAMISH BURGESS
Hamish Douglas Burgess, also known as Jim or Seumas, is an artist living on the island of Maui, in the Hawaiian Islands. He continues the ancient practice with his own Celtic art, traditional and modern, in various mediums. Coming from Celtic stock (Scottish), and living for many years in a Celtic area of Britain (Cornwall), he has a love of Celtic art and music instilled in him, producing Celtic artwork in different media, photography from the Celtic Lands, and playing the bagpipes. He regularly spends time in the ancient Celtic areas of Britain, Ireland and Europe, studying ancient works of Celtic art, and visiting other artists. Recent works have included album covers, book illustrations, commissioned pieces, original celtic tattoos, temporary celtic tattoos and even an entire car! For a forward for renowned celtic artist Courtney Davis' latest 'Celtic Tattoo Workbook' (Volume 2) - see bottom of page.
ORIGINAL CELTIC ART BY HAMISH BURGESS, RECENT WORKS
'IRISH ROVERS UNICORN AND MANDOLIN' © Hamish Burgess 2010
Original Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, a commissioned piece by George Millar founder of the legendary Irish Rovers, as a new logo for the band, destined to be on logowear and a splash page for the upcoming new Irish Rovers website. The design is based on an older logo used by the band during their 40th anniversary, brought by Hamish into the Celtic art world. It contains a tribute to the band's landmark million selling single from 1967, 'The Unicorn', with a Celtic-style unicorn, who's mane and tail are entwined with a Mandolin, a trademark instrument of the group, featuring a Celtic knotwork border.
'UNICORN AND MANDOLIN' © Hamish Burgess 2010
The above design is the original 'Unicorn and Mandolin' logo commissioned by George Millar of the Irish Rovers, as a new logo for the band, destined to be on logowear soon to be available through the band's upcoming new website.
The original works shown above are now SOLD. The piece measures approx 8.5 x 11 inches. Original commissioned works to your own concepts are available. Please contact us for details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'FINN McCOUL' © Hamish Burgess 2010
A commissioned original by Maui's newest local Celtic band Finn McCoul for the cover artwork to their upcoming first album "On the Shoulders of Giants".
The piece was inspired by an ancient 6th century brooch, appropriately with three surrounding panels, the sacred number often used in Celtic art representing the Celtic Mother Goddess. The centerpiece is the Celtic warrior Finn McCoul, leader of the Fianna, and in legends a giant (more below). The ridges on his helmet represent the 2 mountains of Maui (also giants), with the sun rising and setting. His eyes are like jewels in the ocean (the Hawaiian Islands), and the face tattoos represent waves.
The top panel reads 'Finn McCoul' in an original script inspired by a style of ancient studded knotwork, with the studs representing the eight band members.
The two bottom panels represent the band's journey to gain traditional Celtic music knowledge from those that have gone before, based on the album name "On the Shoulders of Giants", which is also a nod to their location on the slopes of the mountains of Maui.
The left panel shows the Salmon of Knowledge in the shape of a musical treble clef, representing the traditional music of the Celtic lands. Three drops of wisdom are falling on Finn's thumb, which he puts in his mouth gaining the tradition that flows into the next panel. The triangle borders are in respect of being in Polynesia, commonly seen in local art. In similar tribute, the small finger makes the hand show a 'shaka', a common greeting in modern Hawaii. Finn's hand is wearing a torc, the symbol of a chief or great warrior.
The right panel represents the acquired knowledge of music, which comes in out (from the band) as music on a bar, which is in the shape a maze or labyrinth, symbolizing a continuing learning process.
The pentagons and hexagons at each end of the music bar represent the Giants Causeway (Ireland) and it's counterpart Fingal's Cave (Scotland). That is based on the legends of Finn as a giant (see below), and a nod to two of the types of music the band play, Irish and Scottish, and the maze that connects them.
The great Celtic warrior, Fionn mac Cumhaill was leader of the Fianna, an elite fighting force who protected Ireland. He was also known as a giant, and appeared in the legends of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. The Irish legends come from the Fenian cycles of ancient texts, or Fiannaidheacht. His name means 'fair' or 'bright'.
Fionn (in very early texts Finn mac Cumhal) was son of Cumhal of the sons of Baiscne, and of Muirne daughter of Tadg who was son of legendary Nuada of the Tuatha de Danaan and Ethlinn, mother of Lugh of the Long Hand.
Finn was fostered by the druidess Bodhmall, and warrior woman Liath Luachra, who taught him the arts and battle skills.
Under his birth-name Deimne, he learnt poetry from the druid Finnéces (or Finnegas), meaning 'Finn the Seer', who had been hunting the Salmon of Knowledge for seven years on the banks of the River Boinn (Boyne). The legendary fish would give the world's wisdom to whomever first ate it. After catching the fish, Finnegas asked Finn to roast it, but not eat any of it. While doing so, Finn burnt his thumb with three drops of fish-oil while putting down a blister on the fish's skin, and upon quickly putting his thumb in his mouth to cool it, accidentally gained the knowledge from the salmon. On finding this out, the poet Finnegas realized Finn's identity as the prophesied receiver of the wisdom, and gave him the rest of the fish to eat. From that time Finn could find information and see the future by chewing on his thumb.
Some legends refer to Fionn as a giant, who built stepping stones between Ireland and Scotland to keep his feet dry - these being the unusual pentagonal and hexagonal basalt columns of the Giants Causeway in County Antrim, north-east Ireland, and it's counterpart Fingal's Cave, Staffa, in south-west Scotland. He is also said to have pulled up a huge lump of turf in Ireland to throw at a rival giant in Scotland, but it fell into the Irish Sea and became the Isle of Man. The hole left from the turf is said to be Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland.
There are many more tales of the giant Finn, and also of the warrior Fionn, including his legendary pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne.
This Original work shown above is now SOLD. The piece measures approx 6.5 x 6.5 inches. Original commissioned works to your own concepts are available. Please contact us for details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'GRACEHILL FAIR' © Hamish Burgess 2009
Original Folk and Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, a commissioned piece by George Millar founder of the legendary Irish Rovers, for the cover of the latest Irish Rovers CD. The Irish singer commissioned Hamish after seeing his Celtic artwork whilst on Maui earlier this year. The album cover is a piece of folk art entitled 'Gracehill Fair', that George thinks captured the spirit of the title track of the album. It features a traditional Celtic knotwork border and a fairground tent, with Irish musicians, dancers and spectators making merry, like you may see at an Irish country fair, any time in the last century or so.
Many thanks to Hamish's brother Dudley for suggestions and help on this piece. He's a great artist and tattooist, and owner of DNA Tattoo Studio in Cornwall, UK.
This Original work shown above is now SOLD. The piece measures approx 8.5 x 8.5 inches. Original commissioned works to your own concepts are available. Please contact us for details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'IRISH ROVERS TREE OF LIFE' © Hamish Burgess 2010
A second original by Hamish Burgess, commissioned by George Millar of the Irish Rovers, for the liner notes booklet of the latest Irish Rovers CD, 'Gracehill Fair'. 'The Irish Rovers Tree of Life' has stalks and leaves curling to represent the 45 years that the legendary band have been on the road. The Celtic Tree of Life comes out of a traditional cauldron, and entwined are the seven creations of the ancient Celtic world as they saw it - plants, humans, animals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects. The design contains a tribute to the band's landmark million selling single from 1967, 'The Unicorn', with a Celtic-style unicorn, and from a line in the song, "there were green alligators and long-necked geese....", the reptile on the 4 is a green alligator, with a long-necked goose amongst the 5.
The landmark album for The Irish Rovers' 45th year of touring, "Gracehill Fair" will be released on Feb 10th. It contains fine traditional songs and tunes, and great new original songs. Watch this space for details on where to get it, and also the Irish Rovers website.
This Original work shown above is now SOLD. The piece measures approx 8.5 x 8.5 inches. Original commissioned works like this are available, customized to feature stylized likenesses or animals, specific to your concept. Please contact us for details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'LINDISFARNE SPIRALS' © Hamish Burgess 2009
Traditional Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, hand painted with acrylics on ragpaper. This is a reproduction from the Lindisfarne Gospels and mixes spirals and shapes after the early Celtic La Tène style, and zoomorphic birds. The central oval of spirals is commonly seen in Celtic art reproductions (see the Original Celtic Chariot roof at the bottom of this page), but Hamish chose to copy the piece with it's surrounding border letter. Colours are similar to the original work, which is unbelievably less than 2 + 1/2 inches high. This copy of the illuminated letter 'O' is from the 'Novum Opus' page (folio 3) of the ancient book, containing decorated initials starting Saint Jerome's letter to Pope Damasus, explaining his Latin Vulgate translation of the Gospels. The Lindisfarne Gospels were created in the late 600s or early 700s AD, in the Lindisfarne monastery which was built on a tidal island (cut off from the mainland except at low tide) known as Holy Island, off the Northumberland coast of what is now north-east England. Historical writings state the amazing work was created by the hand of Bishop Eadfrith (628-721). The book is now in the British Library in London, where Hamish has studied it's intricate art first-hand.
This Original work shown above is available for $500. Acrylics on ragpaper. The piece measures approx 12 x 16.5 inches. We hope to have prints available soon. Please contact us for more details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'ROSS-SHIRE ROSE' Hilton of Cadboll Stone © Hamish Burgess 2009
Ancient style Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, hand painted with acrylics on canvas. Created for an Upcountry Maui art show with a red theme, every color used in 'Ross-shire Rose' is a shade of red, running from the lightest pink, which looks white, to the black outline, actually with a slight red tint when used very thinly. Difficult to see in the photo, each spiral has 2 or 3 shades throughout. It features 32 triple spirals, 8 double spirals, and a stylized gemstone at the center. The piece is based on a carved spiral panel of an ancient Pictish standing stone (9th century) orignally in Ross-shire, Scotland, called the Hilton of Cadboll Stone. Also inspired by a line drawing recreating the broken panel, by the late great Celtic artist George Bain. Hamish studied the original stone which is now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and features part of the above spiral pattern, as well as Pictish symbols, a tree of life with zoomorphic birds, and a hunting scene seemingly led by a woman riding side-saddle.
This Original work shown above is available for $1000 (plus shipping), unframed. Acrylics on stretched canvas. The piece measures 24 x 24 inches. PRINTS COMING SOON ! Please contact us for more details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'MAUI CELTIC OCEAN' '09 © Hamish Burgess 2004 and 2009
Original modern Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, this is a re-work of a painting from 2004, spurred on by several requests to put it onto canvas and make prints. This is quite different to the earlier glass piece (below), with the whole image changed for a wider canvas, the animals moved, and different colours. The outlines are all in gold.
The theme is Hawaiian marine life, painted in a Celtic style, inspired by Hamish's many years as a working scuba-diving instructor in the Caribbean, then Oahu and Maui, seeing these animals on a daily basis.
The piece depicts from the sky to the ocean floor, starting with the clouds and sun (featuring a triscele). Next is an Hawaiian spinner dolphin (Nai'a), jumping through the waves, and a humbpack whale (Kohola) with her calf.
The jellyfish is about to be pursued by a green sea turtle (Honu), with a manta ray (Hahalua) nearby, all made with Celtic knots. The reef features an octopus (He'e) interested in a pencil-slate urchin, a green moray eel (Puhi), a moorish idol (Kihikihi) and a trigger fish (Humuhumunukunukuapua'a) feeding on corals. Resting on the sand is a white-tipped reef shark (Mano). Even the Moorish Idol and the Triggerfish are made up of modern Celtic knots.
Reef detail
All artwork © Hamish Burgess 2004/2009.
This Original work shown above (top) is available for $2500 (plus shipping), unframed. Acrylics on stretched canvas. The piece measures approx 60 x 15 inches. PRINTS COMING SOON ! Please contact us for more details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'OLD, WISE, WARRIOR' © Hamish Burgess 2005 and 2009
Modern Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, hand painted with acrylics and watercolours on ragpaper. This original piece mixes shapes after the early Celtic La Tène style, and zoomorphic creatures. Drawn first by Hamish in 2005, and applied as a forearm tattoo for a good Irish friend, who now has this in his collection of my work. The green, white and orange Dragon symbolises the antiquity of Ireland, and from Irish mythology the fish is the Salmon of Knowledge, and the dog is the warrior Cú Chulainn. At the heart of the piece surrounded by white is a triscele, representing the ancient Celtic Mother Goddess, with her three aspects as Maiden, Mother and Crone. The curvilinear shapes containing the animals are on a background of faint trisceles and spirals.
Zoomorphic creature detail
This Original work shown above is now SOLD. Acrylics and watercolour on ragpaper. The piece measures approx 16.5 x 12 inches. We hope to have prints available soon. Please contact us for more details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'GUARDIAN OF THE GODDESS' © Hamish Burgess 2009
Modern Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, hand painted with acrylics on canvas. This original Celtic Dragon mixes several styles of Celtic art, the zoomorphic creature emanating from a tradtional knot (originally found on carved stones in Scotland). The wings are decorated after the earlier Celtic La Tène style, featuring curvilinear shapes on a background of cross-hatching. The body has scales. The front claw is holding a crystal ball containing a white triscele, representing the ancient Celtic Mother Goddess, with her three aspects as Maiden, Mother and Crone.
La Tène style wing detail
The balance of the old world was upset with the displacement of the White Goddess by the coming of the newer era of Christianity. The 'Guardian of the Goddess' is the red dragon of the Celtic people caring for the Goddess, safe a crystal ball, until it is time for Her return.
This Original work shown above is available for $1000 (plus shipping), unframed. Acrylics on stretched canvas. The piece measures approx 15 x 60 inches, with the canvas bigger around the image than shown above. Please contact us for more details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'MAUI CELTIC WHALE' LOGO © Hamish Burgess 2004 & 2008
This original modern Celtic Whale was created by Hamish for his 'Maui Celtic Ocean' piece, in 2004, then adapted as part of a Solstice/Christmas card later that year. In 2008, it was re-drawn and became part of the Maui Celtic logowear range, popular at last year's Hawaiian Scottish Festival.
Available on Navy T-shirts at the Maui Celtic Online Store
'THE CELTIC CHARIOT' © Hamish Burgess 2008
SEPT 2008 MAUI CELTIC ARTIST HAMISH BURGESS CREATED HIS BIGGEST PIECE TO DATE....
HIS 'CELTIC CHARIOT' FEATURES ORIGINAL CELTIC DRAGONS ON THE SIDES, AND A KNOTWORK PANEL ON THE TAILGATE. 1990 Toyota Truck. Hand painted in enamels on metal, the original Celtic Dragon mixes several styles of Celtic art, the zoomorphic creature emanating from a tradtional knot (originally found on carved stones in Scotland). The wings are decorated after the early Celtic La Tène style, featuring curvilinear shapes on a background of cross-hatching. The body has scales.
The tailgate features Hamish's company website in a Celtic font between two trisceles - the sacred triple spiral of the Celtic people. It is surrounded by a Celtic knotwork border in a traditional style. All artwork © Hamish Burgess 2008
'IRISH HALPENNY TREE OF LIFE' © Hamish Burgess 2005
This original Watercolour piece by Hamish Burgess was a wedding gift for some great Irish friends, customized to feature the happy couple. It is a Celtic Tree of Life coming out of a traditional cauldron, with the seven creations of the ancient Celtic world - plants, humans, animals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects. In this case the tree, the couple, a dog, a bird, salmon (with water), a lizard, and a dragonfly.
Original commissioned works like this are available, customized to feature stylized likenesses of you and your loved ones, and pets or favorite animals. Please contact us for details - email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'MAUI CELTIC OCEAN' ON GLASS © Hamish Burgess 2004
Original modern Celtic art by Hamish Burgess, this piece is free-standing and designed to be front-lit, not back-lit like stained glass. Enamels on glass (outlined in gold paint), in a wood frame, with a custom made Oak base.
The theme is Hawaiian marine life, painted in a Celtic style, inspired by Hamish's years as a working scuba-diving instructor on Oahu and Maui, seeing these animals on a daily basis.
The piece depicts from the sky to the ocean floor, starting with the clouds and sun (featuring a triscele). Next is an Hawaiian spinner dolphin (Nai'a), jumping through the waves, and a humbpack whale (Kohola) with her calf.
The jellyfish is pursued by a green sea turtle (Honu), with a manta ray (Hahalua) nearby, all made with Celtic knots. The reef features an octopus (He'e) interested in a pencil-slate urchin, a green moray eel (Puhi), a moorish idol (Kihikihi) and a trigger fish (Humuhumunukunukuapua'a) feeding on corals. Resting on the sand is a white-tipped reef shark (Mano).
This Original work shown above is available for $3000 on Maui (plus special protective art shipping for other islands or the mainland). Approx 6 feet high x 1 foot wide. Please contact Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com for more details. All artwork © Hamish Burgess 2004.
'MAUI CELTIC DOLPHIN' LOGO
© Dudley Burgess 1996 © Hamish Burgess 2003
This original modern Celtic Dolphin was created by Dudley Burgess of DNA Tattoo Studio in Cornwall, UK in 1996, as part of a tattoo for his brother Hamish. This logo was an adaption of that dolphin, by Hamish for his company Maui Celtic, in 2003. Designed originally as part of a Solstice/Christmas card, it became part of the Maui Celtic logowear range, it has become popular in the Hawaiian Islands.
Available in two colours on T-shirts, Long-sleeves, and Tanks - for Men, Women, and Kids - at the Maui Celtic Online Store
'CELTIC TREE OF LIFE' © Hamish Burgess 2003
This original Watercolour piece by Hamish Burgess is a Celtic Tree of Life coming out of a traditional cauldron, with the seven creations of the ancient Celtic world - plants, humans, animals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects.
This Original work shown above is available for $700 (plus shipping), the art being on torn watercolor paper with rough edges. Designed to be mounted raised off the backing, the piece measures approx 30 x 6 1/2 inches. Please contact us for more details.
Digitally reproduced limited edition art prints on watercolor paper available. The colors on the prints are slightly muted. Rough-edged image above printed on (ie. has a surrounding border of) off-white watercolor paper.
Large print (area approx 26 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches) $ 90 plus shipping.
Please email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'DRUID HANDS' © Hamish Burgess 2003
A pair of book-ends, these praying hands cried out to Hamish to become tattooed Druid Hands. They feature ancient Pictish designs based on stone carvings in Scotland, on the left a 'Crescent and V-rod', and right a 'Double-disc and Z-rod'. The Picts originally lived in what is now Scotland, given the name 'Pictii' by the Romans, which meant 'painted people' - they were heavily tattooed (for an article on this, go to the bottom of the Celtic Art page). The purple-edged crumpled sleeves show blue trisceles - the sacred triple spiral of the Celtic people.
This Original work shown above is available for $400 (plus shipping). Acrylics on cast resin hands, measuring approx 9"high x 4" across sleeve base. Please contact Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com for more details.
'KEOKEA TREE OF LIFE' © Hamish Burgess 2003
This original piece by Hamish Burgess was a commission for an Irish-Scots friend, customized to feature him and his wife, his dog and creatures seen in his garden in Keokea, Upcountry Maui. Watercolour. It is a Celtic Tree of Life coming out of a traditional cauldron, with the seven creations of the ancient Celtic world - plants, humans, animals, birds, fish, reptiles and insects. In this case the tree, the couple, their dog, a pheasant, koi fish (with water), a skink, and a dragonfly.
Original commissioned works like this are available, customized to feature stylized likenesses of you and your loved ones, and pets or favorite animals. Please contact us for details.
Digitally reproduced limited edition art prints on watercolor paper available in two sizes. Rough-edged image above printed on (ie. has a surrounding border of) off-white watercolor paper.
Large print (area approx 26 x 5 1/2 inches) $ 90. Small print (area approx 14 x 3 inches) $ 30.
Plus shipping. Please email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'SEA, LAND & AIR' © Hamish Burgess 2003
This piece was first an original tattoo design, drawn by Hamish Burgess and applied on a friend who appreciates Celtic art, who then commissioned the above painting. Acrylics on a watercolour background. Featuring zoomorphic Celtic designs, with an original Dolphin, and a traditional Dog and Bird. In the tattoo (around his leg) the birds foot entwined with the dolphin's tail creating a continuous circle of life.
Digitally reproduced limited edition art prints on watercolor paper are available. The dog on the prints is maroon. The rough-edged image above is printed on (ie. has a surrounding border of) off-white watercolor paper.
Large print (area approx 23 x 5 1/2 inches) $ 90 plus shipping.
Please email Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com
'MAUI CELTIC TRISCELE' LOGO © Hamish Burgess 2002
An original logo created by Hamish for his company Maui Celtic, during a trip to Cornwall in 2002. Designed as a company T-shirt, it became a popular sight on Maui, and now worldwide. This is now the classic of the Maui Celtic logowear range. It features a triscele - the number three was sacred to the ancient Celts, because of their Triple Goddess, represented by the Triscele (Triskell) symbol, which has been found on the helmets of ancient warrior kings and queens. More recently some regard it as a Trinity symbol.
Available in several colours on T-shirts, Long-sleeves, and Tanks - for Men, Women, and Kids - at the Maui Celtic Online Store
'MAUI CELTIC LEI' LOGO © Hamish Burgess 2002
An original logo created by Hamish for his company Maui Celtic, during a trip to Cornwall in 2002. The knotwork border is based on a traditional piece from the Book of Lindisfarne. Designed as a company T-shirt, it became a classic of the Maui Celtic logowear range.
Available in black on T-shirts at the Maui Celtic Online Store
'IMBAS FOROSNAI : Making Manifest the Great Illuminated Knowledge'
© Jim Douglas Burgess 2001
An original ink drawing by Jim Douglas Burgess, published as a frontispiece in 'Remembering Our Ancestors', a Dissertation by Paula Noel, Ph.D. in 2002. Commissioned by a friend writing her dissertation, who explained what she wanted for her book, not expecting an uncanny experience nothing short of mind-reading help from the Ancestors ! A clash of two cultures and religions, featuring a portrait in the old Celtic style, with a knotwork path through life protected by 'amakua', or guardian spirits, from the seal-people ancestors of Colonsay Island in the Scottish Hebrides.
Original commissioned works like this are available. Please contact Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com for more details.
'CELTIC LIONS' WHEELCOVER © Hamish Burgess 1999
An original design using acrylics on a leather wheelcover. Commissioned by a friend for his Jeep, this featured a zoomorphic image, based on a panel from the Book of Kells, using the sacred number of three. The Celtic Lions are in the traditional style of intertwined limbs and biting each others tails, to create a continuous unbroken circle.
Original commissioned works like this are available. Please contact Hamish at hamish@mauiceltic.com for more details.
THE ORIGINAL 'CELTIC CHARIOT' © Hamish Burgess 1999
Hamish's biggest art piece until recently was his original 'Celtic Chariot', a Chevy Cavalier stationwagon covered in Celtic knotwork, spirals, and Pictish designs, which was a regular local sight on Maui for a few years. Hand painted in enamels on metal, the original car being blue. Both sides feature knotwork to fit the panels, and traditional Celtic Dragon heads at the front, with their tongues wrapping around the grille. The passenger side above shows the Scottish Rampant Lion, a traditional mandala with a double-headed creature, and a Pictish 'double-disc and Z-rod'.
The drivers side above shows the Flying Heart and Crown of the Douglas Clan Badge, from the tradition of Sir James Douglas carrying his friend King Robert Bruce's heart in a silver box around his neck into battle. Also a traditional spiral pattern from the Book of Kells, and a Pictish 'beast'.
The roof again featured traditional Celtic Dragon heads joined by their tongues, a knotwork border, and a spiral panel from the Book of Lindisfarne.
The tailgate showed bagpipes and a thistle, with "The destination is not important, it's the journey that matters" in Celtic script.
The hood featured a quote from John Barbour's epic poem The Bruce (originally The Brus), written in the 1370s.
"A noble heart may have none ease.......if freedom failye".
Unfortunately, this mobile artwork is no longer with us. After years of enjoyment, and way too much money on maintenance, long after the chariot should have been put to rest, Hamish sadly painted her black, and gave her to charity !
All artwork © Hamish Burgess 1999.
The following extract was written as a forward for renowned celtic artist Courtney Davis' latest 'Celtic Tattoo Workbook' Vol 2.
CELTIC TATTOO
BY HAMISH (JIM) DOUGLAS BURGESS
Following the ancient patterns of Celtic beliefs, tattooing in the Celtic Lands has gone through a long cycle of life, death, and rebirth. This continuous circle of life is represented by the unbroken interlacing knotwork designs of the early Celts, whose art had rested unnoticed for many years. Only comparatively recently, in the last century, has their art seen a revival by several artists around the world, foremost amongst whom is Courtney Davis, whose latest book we have the pleasure of introducing.
Many people mistake the origin of tattooing as being in Polynesia, the Pacific Islands. In fact, all over the world, since stone age times, many ancient cultures were practicing the art of tattoo. In the early 1990's the discovery of ancient frozen mummies (the 5000 year old tattooed "Iceman" in the Tyrolean Alps, and then the 2400 year old elaborately tattooed Pazyryk "Ice Maiden" and "Warrior" in Siberia) show the antiquity of the art. It is well documented that the Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Thracians, Scythians, Siberians, Arabs, Incas, Indians, Asians, North and South American Natives, Japanese, and Pacific Islanders were tattooed.
Our focus here though, is on the Ancient Celts. The Celts themselves had an oral tradition, and therefore no written historical records (although they did have an early system of marks known as Ogham), so the earliest observations of tattooed Celts were noted by their adversaries, the invadingRomans. Many Roman (and Greek) accounts were written of the 'painted barbarians', naming the Britons, Iberians, Gauls, Goths, Teutons, Picts and Scots (the 'Scotii' came from Ireland) as being tattooed, the Latin word for 'tattoo' being 'stigma'.
"The Britons incise on their bodies coloured pictures of animals, of which they are very proud" ( Herod of Antioch, 3rd century AD).
The Romans even named the fierce far northern tribes "Pictii", 'the painted ones', although those ancient warriors known as the Picts had their own name, the Cruithne, 'people of the shapes'. The Roman historian Claudian, noted that these warriors were tattooed:
"...the legion which had been left to guard far-distant Britain, which had kept the fierce Scots in check and gazed at the strange shapes tattooed on the faces of the dying Picts." (Claudian,416-18AD).
He distinguished the difference between the use of an iron needle ("ferro picta, ferro notatas", literally translated as 'iron-marked'), as opposed to body-painting with woad (blue dye), also an ancient practice. A later scribe uses more detail:
"The race of the Picts has a name derived from the appearance of their bodies. These are played upon by a needle working with small pricks and by the squeezed-out sap of a native plant, so that they bear the resultant marks according to the personal rank of the individual, their painted limbs being tattooed to show their high birth." (Isidore of Seville, 7th century AD).
The tattooed Celt seems to have disappeared with the successive waves of continental invaders, absorbing the ancient Britons, and occupying the remaining Celtic Lands of Ireland, Scotland, Man, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and Galacia. Medieval Irish manuscripts, the "Lebor Gabala Erenn" (The Book of the Taking of Ireland) mention tattooing using the word 'rind'(tattoo) and 'rintaib'(tattoo-marks). Very little literature of the 1000 years from the Saxons arrival onwards, mentions the art. Perhaps surprisingly, there are references to Christian devotees bearing marks of their worship, such ideas traditionally frowned upon by the church, with tattooing being totally forbidden by Pope Hadrian 1st in 787 AD, no doubt contributing to the demise of tattoo in Europe.
Meanwhile, Celtic art continued to be carved on large memorial stones across the Celtic Lands, becoming increasingly more detailed and intricate over the centuries, culminating in the fabulous metalwork treasures and incredible illuminated manuscripts of the Celtic monks, which can be seen in the national museums.
A few early Celts had left the homelands adventuring, but with the great age of sea voyaging and exploring of the 16th to 18th centuries, with ships visiting the Americas and later the Pacific, sailors (many Celtic) brought back tales of tattooed 'savages', examples of Polynesian tattoos on themselves (beginning the tradition of the tattooed sailor), and even a tattooed Tahitian man, named Omai, who became quite a celebrity in London society in 1774. The word 'tattoo' comes from the Tahitian word 'Tatau', stemming from 'ta', meaning to hit or strike, referring to the ancient style of tattooing by tapping sharpened bone combs with mallets.
During this time of renewed interest in tattooing again in Britain (after a long period of inactivity), Celtic people were leaving their homes by the thousands to the Americas and beyond, some seeking adventure and opportunity, many in search of a better life, and some driven out by religious persecution. Millions of Irish left their homeland for America due to poverty and starvation of 'The Great Potato Famine' of the 1840s. Scots left by the tens of thousands for America and Canada reaching a peak during 'The Highland Clearances' of the 1760s. Welsh and Cornish miners seeking work left when the mining industries declined. All these Celts took with them around the world their art, languages and music. In most countries in the world you can now find emigrant Celts.
The revival of Tattoo also seems to have gone full circle from the Polynesians, back to the Celts, then with the continuing migration of Celtic people, returning to the Americas and the Pacific.
We are brothers Dudley and Jim (Hamish) Burgess, of Scottish origin, who adopted Cornwall as home over 20 years ago. We were first inspired by Courtney Davis' artwork in his first book, and have both been studying Celtic art since then. Our story also seems to have followed the ancient patterns, starting with Courtney's art, following our own Celtic art paths, and now returns full circle to this forward for Courtney's latest book.
We hope you will also be inspired by Courtney's art, and encourage you to tap into your heritage with a Celtic tattoo, and walk the path with your ancestors... May the road rise to meet you.
Hamish (Jim) Burgess, |
Dudley Burgess, |