celtichammerclub

The Irish immigrants made quite the impression when they landed on American shores. Their penchant for fighting and rowdiness has been immortalized with ideas of the "fighting Irish," the "Irish temper," and another famous phrase which has become mainstream. "Don't Get My Irish Up" means "don't provoke me, or my Irish temper will come out, and you'll know why we are known as the 'fighting Irish'!"

Most of our Christmas traditions have their roots in Viking culture where the time of year for decorated trees and garland was knows as Yule or Jol. Even Santa’s elves have their history in the folklore of the Vikings where elves and dwarves played a prominent role. This Yule Elf is done in a Viking artwork style and is what is called a “godmask.” Celebrate the Yule season Viking style!

Most of our Christmas traditions have their roots in Viking culture where the time of year for decorated trees and garland was knows as Yule or Jol. Even Santa’s elves have their history in the folklore of the Vikings where elves and dwarves played a prominent role. This Yule Elf is done in a Viking artwork style and is what is called a “godmask.” Celebrate the Yule season Viking style!

The lore of Krampus originates with the Germanic peoples of Europe and stretches back to pre-Christian times. However, as Christianity took over Europe, Krampus was turned as a kind of counter balance to St. Nicholas. While good ol' St. Nick was going around rewarding good little boys and girls with gifts, Krampus was out there beating the hell out of the bad ones! If you were an especially rotten little boy or girl, Krampus would actually KIDNAP you and carry you away in his sack to his lair!

The lore of Krampus originates with the Germanic peoples of Europe and stretches back to pre-Christian times. However, as Christianity took over Europe, Krampus was turned as a kind of counter balance to St. Nicholas. While good ol' St. Nick was going around rewarding good little boys and girls with gifts, Krampus was out there beating the hell out of the bad ones! If you were an especially rotten little boy or girl, Krampus would actually KIDNAP you and carry you away in his sack to his lair!

The lore of Krampus originates with the Germanic peoples of Europe and stretches back to pre-Christian times. However, as Christianity took over Europe, Krampus was turned as a kind of counter balance to St. Nicholas. While good ol' St. Nick was going around rewarding good little boys and girls with gifts, Krampus was out there beating the hell out of the bad ones! If you were an especially rotten little boy or girl, Krampus would actually KIDNAP you and carry you away in his sack to his lair!

The lore of Krampus originates with the Germanic peoples of Europe and stretches back to pre-Christian times. However, as Christianity took over Europe, Krampus was turned as a kind of counter balance to St. Nicholas. While good ol' St. Nick was going around rewarding good little boys and girls with gifts, Krampus was out there beating the hell out of the bad ones! If you were an especially rotten little boy or girl, Krampus would actually KIDNAP you and carry you away in his sack to his lair!

This is my interpretation of the legendary figure of American folklore, the Headless Horseman. Here he is portrayed in a Celtic style. Legend has it that the Headless Horseman was a Hessian (German) mercenary fighting for the British in the American Revolutionary War. That was, until an American cannonball took off his head! Now he rises every Halloween night to prowl the Village of Sleepy Hollow, NY searching for his missing head, and terrorizing locals for centuries.

This is my interpretation of the legendary figure of American folklore, the Headless Horseman. Here he is portrayed in a Celtic style. Legend has it that the Headless Horseman was a Hessian (German) mercenary fighting for the British in the American Revolutionary War. That was, until an American cannonball took off his head! Now he rises every Halloween night to prowl the Village of Sleepy Hollow, NY searching for his missing head, and terrorizing locals for centuries.

Mjölnir, the mightiest of all mythological weapons. The war hammer of the god of thunder, Thor! The powerful symbol of the strongest of war implements has been worn by warriors and those looking for strength and protection for centuries. What better way to use the great image of Mjölnir than on a logo for MEAD, the most popular of all Viking alcoholic beverages! Fermented from honey, mead was a popular drink of the day, and continues to be popular into the present era. This Celtic Hammer Club design uses original artwork to create a vintage looking liquor label that conveys all of the power and history behind the mighty Mjölnir, and one of the most ancient party drinks, mead! Perfect to wear while you're out raiding social events!

Vikings and Norse warriors would wear the Mjölnir (Thor's Hammer) amulet to invoke the thunder god's strength and protection. In Norse mythology, Odin, the Allfather, is the father of Thor. This depiction of Mjölnir is adorned with Odin and Thor locked in battle. What's causing this domestic dispute? I'm not sure. Maybe Thor drank Odin's last bottle of mead!

Fenrir (or Fenris) is a gigantic, monster wolf of Norse Viking folklore. Fenrir is a child of the Norse god Loki, and is responsible for gobbling up the god Odin WHOLE during the events of Ragnarok. Fenrir is so ferocious that only a magical chain forged by the dwarves can bind him. The god Tyr (represented by the rune that looks like an arrow in this image) had his right hand bitten off by Fenrir. This image shows Fenrir breaking free of the magical dwarven chains that bind him.

The Dead Rabbits were a notorious Irish-American gang that roamed the streets of old New York in a notorious slum known as the Five Points. It was a time when only the tough could survive. Personal grievances, business competition, and even political differences were often settled with fists. The Dead Rabbits’ nemesis would be a Nativist gang known as the Bowery Boys. Violence was golden as America struggled to define itself, but the struggle helped shape the character of the USA, and came to define the hard-working, hard-fighting, hard-drinking American immigrant.

The Dead Rabbits were a notorious Irish-American gang that roamed the streets of old New York in a notorious slum known as the Five Points. It was a time when only the tough could survive. Personal grievances, business competition, and even political differences were often settled with fists. The Dead Rabbits’ nemesis would be a Nativist gang known as the Bowery Boys. Violence was golden as America struggled to define itself, but the struggle helped shape the character of the USA, and came to define the hard-working, hard-fighting, hard-drinking American immigrant.

"Boozed, Bruised, and Tattooed." This design represents the gritty, rough and tumble lifestyle of those that live on the fringe of so called "society." You take no shit and give zero fucks. God help the next person that says your beard is "hipster!"

Never give up. Never go down. Bruised, bloodied, but never beaten! You're always ready for one more round! This unique design emulates strength and toughness in a vintage style.

The Dead Rabbits were a notorious Irish gang that dominated the nefarious Five Points neighborhood of New York City during the mid to late 1800’s. The Dead Rabbits became part of popular culture when they were portrayed in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film “Gangs of New York” with Leonardo DiCaprio playing the fictional leader of the well known gang. The Dead Rabbits Gang was easily identified by the red striped shirts they wore to show their affiliation with the gang. This design incorporates the red stripes that look almost like blood or paint smears across the background of the image of a rabbit’s skull, and some Celtic Knots to reflect the Irish culture associated with the Dead Rabbits gang. Also, The words “Dead Rabbits” and a refe...

One of the most famous and popular icons from the heathen Viking age is that of the berserker. The beserkers, referred to as "Odin's men" were Viking shock troops that were renown for their ferocity in battle. They are also associated with shamanism and would use various hallucinogenic plants, alcohol, and ritual practices to work themselves into a battle frenzy where they were reported by several historians to display feats of super human strength, and, reportedly, felt no pain. They would also not be able to distinguish friend from foe, killing indiscriminately.

The berserkers were the most feared of all the Viking warriors. Known in the Norse poems as "Odin's men", they fought in battle with a rage unmatched by any warrior in history. They hacked through anyone that stood in front of them. Their blind fury did not distinguish friend from foe. They were there to kill. Period. In Norse mythology, Mjolnir was the war hammer of Thor, God of thunder, and was the most feared weapon in Norse mythology. Viking Hammer amulets were popular with the Vikings, and throughout their territories; including the British Isles. This original artwork depicts Odin, father of Thor, on the handle of a traditional Viking Hammer, and his beard twisted into Celtic knots that adorn the head of the hammer.

I actually never heard of Krampus until about a year ago, but once I looked into the tradition I was hooked! The lore of Krampus originates with the Germanic peoples of Europe and stretches back to pre-Christian times. However, as Christianity took over Europe, Krampus was incorporated as a kind of counter balance to St. Nicholas. While good ol’ St. Nick was going around rewarding good little boys and girls with presents, Krampus was out there beating the hell out of the bad ones! Krampus would also rattle his rusty chains to scare bad children. If you were an especially rotten little boy or girl, Krampus would actually KIDNAP you and carry you away in his sack to his lair!

I actually never heard of Krampus until about a year ago, but once I looked into the tradition I was hooked! The lore of Krampus originates with the Germanic peoples of Europe and stretches back to pre-Christian times. However, as Christianity took over Europe, Krampus was incorporated as a kind of counter balance to St. Nicholas. While good ol’ St. Nick was going around rewarding good little boys and girls with presents, Krampus was out there beating the hell out of the bad ones! Krampus would also rattle his rusty chains to scare bad children. If you were an especially rotten little boy or girl, Krampus would actually KIDNAP you and carry you away in his sack to his lair!

What I love about the Celtic style is that it conveys a sense of mystery. Like the artwork depicts something ancient and lost to time and history. That's why I think the Krampus is a perfect character to be portrayed in a Celtic style. The history of Krampus, as with most folklore, is shrouded in a past that isn't totally clear, and yet, it's presence continues to be known into contemporary times. This version, to me, looks kind of like a Tarot card. It's more simplistic and two-dimensional, but it's meaning implies centuries of history and hidden meaning.

Cú Chulainn is one of the most famous of all Celtic Irish mythological heroes. He rose to fame from his exceptional skills at the Irish sport of Hurling. He then solidified his legend by killing the monstrous hound of Culann. Cú Chulainn is most famous for his great berserker rage in battle; turning himself into a giant rage monster that would slaughter men by the hundreds!

The Morrigan is a war goddess from Irish mythology often associated with ravens or the battle crow. She is portrayed as an ominous figure. My interpretation gives her a fearsome appearance with a raven skull headdress, and long bird-like talons for fingers. Her sword is covered with vines and claws to show the connection with nature.

For those of you who don’t already know, Mjölnir is the name of the weapon used by the Norse god of thunder, Thor. The symbol at the center of this design is based on Mjölnir amulets worn around the necks of Vikings during the Middle Ages. It is meant to symbolize strength and protection. Take some time to look at the details in and around the hammer. Anyone interested in Viking history, or in Celtic art would appreciate it.

Pronounced “poteen”, poitín is the Irish version of American moonshine or white lightning. Poitín was generally produced in remote rural areas, away from the interference of the law. Since it was the Irish and Scots-Irish who settled the American South, it stands to reason that they brought their traditions of distilling with them, making poitín the direct ancestor of American moonshine traditions!

The Celtic harp is a triangular harp traditional to Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Ireland and Scotland it was a wire-strung instrument requiring great skill and long practice to play, and was associated with the Gaelic ruling class. In the Republic of Ireland, it appears on the coins and coat of arms. You'll even find it on the pints of Guinness that you have been guzzling down! The Irish Brigades of the American Civil War identified themselves with a green flag emblazoned with a harp. This version incorporates an angel into the construction of the instrument with the phrase "Erin Go Bragh" ("Ireland Forever") beneath the celestial looking harp. I wanted to recreate this image, but with a Celtic Hammer Club twist (as...

A rat rod is a style of hot rod or custom car that, in most cases, imitates (or exaggerates) the early hot rods of the 1940s, 1950s, and early-1960s. The style is not to be confused with the somewhat closely related "traditional" hot rod, which is an accurate re-creation or period-correct restoration of a hot rod from the same era. Most rat rods appear "unfinished", regardless of their status, as only the vehicle's bare essentials are driven. These are built to drive, not exclusively for show.

This vintage looking moonshine label that pays homage to the "Midnight Runners" than ran the 'shine to eager customers in the old days. The runners were known to "soup-up" their cars in order to outrun the law that would continuously be on their trail!

This vintage looking moonshine label that pays homage to the "Midnight Runners" than ran the 'shine to eager customers in the old days. The runners were known to "soup-up" their cars in order to outrun the law that would continuously be on their trail!

The Molly Maguires were a secret society of Irishmen that were active in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania during the late 19th century, and by active I mean they used physical violence to fight back against the coal bosses whose treatment of their workers were nothing short of oppressive. In fact, some consider the Mollies to be a direct precursor to organized labor in the United States. The design is done in a vintage “chalk board” style which fits perfectly for the Molly Maguires design since the style is a throw back to the 19th century saloon signs. If you look closely at all the different text on the design, you’ll see references to Molly Maguire history. The “coffin notes”, a quote from a Molly Maguire, and the le...

I created this evil looking leprechaun dude for some unique designs to celebrate the most fabulous of all the holidays, SAINT PATRICK'S DAY! Take a look and share with friends and family. I actually think these shirts would be pretty cool to wear year round, but obviously you will be ESPECIALLY awesome wearing it during the St. Patrick's Day season. Check it OUT!

I created this evil looking leprechaun dude for some unique designs to celebrate the most fabulous of all the holidays, SAINT PATRICK'S DAY! Take a look and share with friends and family. I actually think these shirts would be pretty cool to wear year round, but obviously you will be ESPECIALLY awesome wearing it during the St. Patrick's Day season. Check it OUT!

I've always thought Celtic crosses looked cool. The image of stone crosses with the intricate medieval ornamentation dotting the rolling hills of Britain and Ireland is almost eerie. It makes me think of a time when the "magic" of the old pagan ways was just meeting the new Roman Christianity. They are like a window into the past; remnants of an older, mysterious world. Not to mention the artwork on the crosses is incredible. I have also been captivated by the art work of the Vikings and Medieval Germanic peoples. Their interaction with the Celts over previous centuries led to similar styles in ornamentation (for example, when you see Celtic artwork that incorporates animal motifs, this is actually Germanic/Norse in origin rat...

While the shamrock gets most of the glory in modern times, it's actually the Celtic harp that has been the major emblem of Ireland throughout history! The history of this emblem of the Emerald Isle stretches back into ancient times. It was the most sought after instrument throughout all of the Celtic lands, not just Ireland. Scotland, Wales, Brittany, anywhere there were vestiges of Celtic culture you would find the Celtic harp. In fact, the harp was so prominent in Celtic culture, that the Celtic harp came to symbolize them as a people. You can find images of the Celtic harp on the flags of the Irish regiments of the American Civil war, the Guinness emblem, and many other logos where "Irishness" is meant to be demonstrated. S...