Image Collection: Keywork Designs

Key-style patterns are found all over the world. For example, the "Greek Key" motif can be seen in art from the Classical Mediterranean to China. And, of course, in Insular Celtic art as well. The images below represent a few basic keywork patterns in the Celtic idiom that I've been working with. Note that all source documents are listed by author in square brackets, with the full name found on the Class Bibliography page.

Materials using Celtic keywork motifs are divided into the following categories:

Keywork Borders

These images include both horizontal separator "lines" and vertical backgrounds with left-hand borders. Please click on the bordered thumbnails to see the full-size images.

Where possible, the components of the borders are provided. That is, the left edge, the center (middle) repeated section, and the right edge are provided as seperate files. These may be combined to make borders of any size desired.

1.	The following panels are based on a simple key pattern used on a number of Celtic MS (including Kells) and stones. I found it in [BainG] page 75, plate 1.
	a. Left: Middle: Right: b. Left: Middle: Right: c. Left: Middle: Right: d.
	e. Left: Middle: Right: f. Left: Middle: Right:
2.	The following borders use a key pattern originally from Kells (unknown Folio) that I found in [BainG] page 78, plate 7.
	a. Left: Middle: Right:
	b. Left: Middle: Right:
3.	These tiles are based on a pattern from a part of the Nigg Stone (also found on Kells F29V). This pattern variation (Bain refers to it as a "chevron" style) is found in [BainG] page 78, plate 7.
	a. Left: Middle: Right:
	b. Left: Middle: Right:
4.	These images are based on a key pattern originally taken from the St. Andrews Stone. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainG] page 81, plate 14.
	a. Left: Middle: Right: b.
	c. Left: Middle: Right:

Keywork Tiles

This tile is based on a pattern from Kells folio 27V, and was taken from [BainG] page 80 plate 11. Tiles 1.a and 1.b are rendered as "paint on parchment". Any of the gray-scale tiles would be suitable as page backgrounds.

a. b. c. d. e. f.

These tiles are based on a pattern from the front of the Nigg Stone. I found the basic pattern in [BainG] page 77, plate 6. Tiles 2.a and 2.b are not rendered in a realistic fashion, and could be considered more abstract rather than Celtic patterns. Tile 2.c is rendered more "realistically" as "carved stone". Tiles 2.d and e use a slightly different repeating technique, and are both suitable for web page background use.

a. b. c. d. e.

This tile is based on a simple key pattern used on a number of Celtic MS (including Kells Folio 124r) and stones. I found it in [BainG] page 75, plate 1. It is the same underlying pattern used in Keywork Border 1. Most of the tiles are variations in simple gray scales, while 3.e and3.i are rendered as "carved stone".

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. h. i.

These tiles are based on a key pattern used on the arm of the cross on the Aberlemno Stone. I found it in [BainG] page 74, Plate N and page 79, plate 10. The repeating pattern on this one is very subtle, and interesting when tiled on a screen. Appropriately, Tile 4.g is rendered as "carved stone".

a. b. c. d. e. f. g.

These images are based on a key pattern used on the Golden Grove Stone. I found it in [BainG] page 78, plate 8. 5.a and 5.b are rendered in shades of gray, 5.c as "gold" and 5.d as "carved stone". All but 5.c could be used as web page backgrounds.

a. b. c. d.

These tiles are based on a key pattern taken from the Book of Kells (unknown Folio). It can be found (in a non-repeating form) in [BainG] page 80, plate 11. Both are done using simple gray shades.

a. b.

These tiles are based on a pattern from another part of the Nigg Stone. This pattern variation (Bain refers to it as a "chevron" style) is found in [BainG] page 78, plate 7. 7.a and b are rendered in shades of gray, 7.c represents "paint on vellum" and 7.d-e are rendered as "carved stone".

a. b. c. d. e.

These images are based on a key pattern originally taken from the St. Andrews Stone. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainG] page 81, plate 14. It has a quite economical repeating group, as can be seen in the small size of tiles 8.a-d below. It also makes a rather striking pattern when rendered as "gold wire" (see Tile 8.e) or "carved stone" (Tile 8.f).

a. b. c. d. e. f.

These tiles are based on a key pattern originally on the Meigle Stone no. 20, Tayside. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainI2], page 17.

a. b.

10.

These tiles are based on a key pattern attributed in [Allen] to several sources, including a stone in Barrochan, Scotland. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainI2], page 47.

a. b.

11.

These tiles are based on a key pattern from the Inchcolm Stone, Fife. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainI2], page 7. Tiles 11.e-f use a "doubled" keywork technique, described in [BainI2], page 51, and used on the Jedburgh Stone, Roxburghshire.

a. b. c. d. e. f.

12.

These tiles are based on a key pattern from the Book of Kells, part of the roundel in Folio 2v. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainI2], page 11. Tiles 12.d-e use a "doubled" keywork technique, described in [BainI2], page 51.

a. b. c. d.

13.

These tiles are based on a key pattern from the Book of Lindisfarne, at the bottom of Folio 95r. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainI2], page 37. The pattern forms a subtle repeat, and makes for a nearly hypnotic pattern when used as a page background!

a. b.

14.

These tiles are based on a key pattern from the base of the Margam Stone number 7, Glamorgan. It can be found pre-analyzed in [BainI2], page 47. Tiles 14.c-d exhibit a "doubled" keywork technique, described in [BainI2], page 51. Tile 14.e is rendered as "carved stone".

a. b. c. d. e.

15.

These tiles are based on a key pattern from Early Christian Monuments, By J. Romilly Allen, Pattern 986. It can be also be found in [BainI2], page 41. Tile 15.c is rendered as "carved stone".

a. b. c.

16.

These tiles are based on a key pattern from the Rosemarkie Stone. It can be also be found in [BainG], page 75, Plate 2. The tiles 15.c is rendered using simple shades of gray and "carved stone".

a. b. c.

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