This is a knotwork design that transmogrifies itself into an image of "An Claidhheam Soluis", or "The Sword of Light". Well, okay, parts of it are pretty representational, but other parts - notably the hilt - are really abstract knotwork patterns in the shape of the object.

"An Claidheamh Soluis" itself was certainly the name of a bilingual Irish / English newspaper in the early 20th century, a part of the Celtic Revival movement; it just as certainly was the name of an actual sword in Padraic Colum's wonderful book, "The King of Ireland's Son".

But while some will tell you that it was the traditional name for a legendary sword, I'm almost positive that it was not. It just sounds that way, especially to anyone who doesn't know that actual legendary Irish swords had names that were a little less metaphysical - like "Retaliator", or "Swift to Hand", for example.

Anyway the paper was a great thing, the Padraic Colum book was a great thing, and here I've made of it a thing of my own.