Chi Rho Belt Buckle

[tyger]

I was honored when Matt Newsome asked me to make a Chi Rho design buckle. He has posted a picture where he is wearing the buckle, kilt, and sporran.

When I researched the Chi Rho, I drew two designs, and Matt instructed me to make this one:

Chi Rho, pewter on brass, 3.5 inches diameter



I thought about it for awhile, then decided that I should make the other design come to life, and see how it looked:

Chi Rho AO, brass on copper, 3.5 inches diameter



Of course, when I got the time I came back to the first design, and wondered how it would look with the yellow and red metals:

Chi Rho, brass on copper, 3.5 inches diameter



I am really pleased with how the white and yellow metal both show the elegant simplicity of this design.



The Chi Rho
[I]The Chi Rho is one of the earliest christograms. It is formed by superimposing the first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word Christ ( Greek : "Χριστός" ), chi = ch and rho = r, in such a way to produce the monogram ☧.

This symbol is widely believed to be the origin of the Celtic Cross, in the following manner: After the conversion of the Emperor Constantine to Christianity in 312, Christians widely, and now openly, used the Chi Rho. In 4th Century Romanised Britain, the Chi Rho was sometimes encircled by a triumphal wreath. Later in the 4th Century the chi (X) had been turned 45 degrees into a cross (+). By the end of the 4th Century, the rho(P) appeared looped as a shepherd's crook or bishop's crozier, and the wreath had become a simple circle. By the 6th century the crook disappeared, and thus the precursor to the Celtic cross had arrived.

(from Newsome, MacRobert, Wikipedia)

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Mark,

Many believe, as well, that the Chi Rho symbol is actually the origin of the Celtic Cross. There are early stone carvings in Scotland and Ireland that show the Chi Rho formed with the Chi (X) in the upper circle of the Rho (P), which if you just tilt the top of the Rho to the left a bit, gives you a perfect Celtic Cross.

Anyway, if those new buckles don't already have owners, bring them up to the museum and we'll add them to our display of your buckles, as we currently don't have any Chi Rho's on hand.

(I just checked our web site and discovered that I've never added this design to our on line catalog, either! I've been a bad boy! I'll get that remedied soon!)

I have been enjoying my Chi Rho buckle quite a bit.




I would have been wearing it at the Stone Mountain Games, but instead opted to wear a vest both days -- which I was glad for, given the temperatures! I needed all the extra warmth I could get!

[piperdbh]

I really like the third picture down, the brass on copper. And, having seen a case full of Tyger's buckles at the Museum, I can vouch for their beauty. Anyone would be fortunate indeed to posess one of them.

[tyger]

Thanks, gentlemen, for the kind compliments.

Matt, I edited the Chi Rho history to reflect your historical input, and credit for same.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I just added these to our web site. Folks can now order on line!
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/tygerforge.htm

[Rollo]

Absolutly marvelous !

[Kilted Carver]

You sir, are an Artist!
Awesome stuff.

[KFCarter]

More beautiful work, tyger!

[McMurdo]

I can't wait to see them when we're in Franklin next week, this should be one of the new things to see at the museum, lovely work even in photos. I'm betting they don't do the buckles justice, you sir are an artist of the highest calibre.

[Wild Macrae]

Absolutely beautiful! Great job!