Mullingar Pewter Gents Pocket Watch - Celtic Spiral Design

Also known as insular art (from the Latin insula meaning 'island'), Celtic designs were eventually adapted by early Christian artists to adorn their works (most famously with the Book of Kells) and to acclimatize Christianity to the local pagan populations. The most iconic features of Celtic art were the knots, known as icovellavna, which formed stylized patterns for illustration and calligraphy, such as the trinity knot. Spirals and triple-spirals (triskeles) are also a common motif - the latter being related to the importance of the number three in Celtic mythology. As the ancient Celts migrated from Central Europe to Ireland and Britain, the designs likely have a mainland origin - though Christian missionaries from these islands would later help reintroduce the art back to Europe.