Celtic Heritage Table Style

Early spring is arriving with clumps of daffodils blooming in my garden! March is just around the corner, bringing with it one of my favorite reasons to set a table  — St. Patrick's Day.

     

For inspiration I looked to my Celtic heritage and found a banner on Etsy which incorporates knots, crosses and other symbols. I used the banner to create a circle in the center of the table surrounding a vase of pretty faux stems in greens and off-whites with a touch of pale orange.

Four place settings begin with small plates featuring different knot designs that are layered on creamy white plates, plain except for their gentle scalloped shape.  This allows the vibrant greens to really stand out. I like the swirls of this knot design.

I had initially thought of using placemats or a table runner in green, but these gold placemats were the perfect choice! Their paisley design complements the intricacy of the Celtic knots. Gold flatware and napkin rings accompany them, and echo the small squares and diamonds in the center of the Celtic plates. For napkins I chose a leafy pattern in shades of green and bronze.

For water glasses I once again chose vintage '60s bar ware swirled in gold and black. They're surprisingly versatile and I've used them in such disparate tables as Setting a Spring Table for Lunch and The Year of the Dragon.

             

  

I then added cut crystal glasses for Irish whiskey. We'll toast with sláinte which means “health” in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

 

This knot design is composed of a series of arcs and lines.

  

To add more gold to the centerpiece I decided on brass candlesticks. I think they effectively echo the shine from the flatware.

I've also placed a variation of a Celtic cross and a wooden shamrock covered in a knot pattern on the buffet behind the table, then added tall brass candlesticks. I originally had these on the table but I thought their height worked better with the buffet decor so I exchanged them for the shorter candlesticks. 

  

I usually use garden daffodils on my St. Patrick's tables, but I rather like the interplay of greens in these faux flowers.

I thought I'd share a few photos of our vacation in Ireland taken at the Newgrange World Heritage Site. Located in the Boyne Valley, the mound was constructed circa 3200 BCE and is part of a complex of monuments that served as passage tombs and ceremonial sites. The mound covers more than an acre and its interior chamber is illuminated by the morning sun during the winter solstice.

 

  

The mound is ringed by 97 large "curbstones", one of which is shown below in front of the passageway entrance.

 

Celtic symbols are engraved on the curbstones; this one contains the spiral symbol called the triskelion.

The symbols on the table have a long history!

Sláinte to you as you celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

For more ideas on setting St. Patrick's Day tables, visit Lucky Enough to be Irish.

Table details

Dinner, salad plates | Villeroy & Boch 'Manoir'

Whiskey glasses | Godinger 'Dublin'

Banner, Celtic cross, shamrock | Etsy   

  

   

* Table details are provided for identification/information only. Dinner at Eight is not affiliated with nor compensated by any other entity.