Small hand-carved pendant based on a Northern European protective knot symbol.
Hand-carved pendant made from natural bone or horn, featuring a Celtic knot looped square design. Carved individually using hand tools, with slight variations in surface and tone. Compact size suitable for everyday wear.
Key Features / Specs
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Material: Natural cattle bone or buffalo horn
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Design: Celtic knot Looped Square (Hannunvaakuna)
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Size: Approx. 3 cm (1.18 in)
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Weight: Lightweight; varies slightly due to natural material
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Finish: Hand-carved, lightly polished natural surface
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Cord: Black waxed cotton, adjustable
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Variation: Each piece differs slightly in colour, grain, and carving marks
Shipping & Production
In stock items
Dispatched from: Canada
Ships within: 1–2 business days
About the Design
The pendant is based on the Looped Square, also known as Hannunvaakuna, a geometric knot symbol documented in Northern Europe from the Migration and Vendel Periods (c. 400–800 AD). The form appears in Scandinavia, Finland, and the Baltic region, where it was carved, painted, or marked on houses, tools, and everyday objects as a protective sign.
Archaeological evidence includes its presence on Gotland picture stones and early medieval wooden artefacts. Over time, the symbol became associated with Midsummer and Saint John traditions, while retaining its earlier pre-Christian function connected with protection, balance, and continuity.
The looped square is visually related to broader Celtic knot traditions, sharing the same principles of continuous line, enclosure, and symmetry. This pendant does not copy a specific artefact but reflects the long-lived visual language of early medieval knotwork, translated into a small, wearable form carved from natural material.
