Description

Condition: New

A Declan Killen silver brooch with celtic design featuring stylized hound and continuous interlacing knotwork. Celtic dog and hound designs symbolize loyalty, protection, and nobility; they frequently appear in medieval illuminated manuscripts and carved stones. W4.5cm x H3cm. Safety closure. Designer stamp and '925' impressed on back. Never worn. Like-new condition. Now rare. See photos. RRP €115. Sell €85.

The renowned Dublin-based jeweller and goldsmith Declan Killen sadly passed in 2025. A backstory of the goldsmith's important work follows below. Sourced from a blog called 'Over the Hilda', where a biography of the jeweller is also posted:
https://share.google/PhzLOJTT8zlaK1Ukk
'Designer Declan Killen (RIP 2025) was commissioned to create a brooch for Queen Elizabeth II for her State Visit to Ireland in 2010 without actually knowing for whom he was creating it, but it needed to be light enough to sit comfortably on a dress or a jacket. The commission had, in fact, come from the office of then President Mary McAleese and after some design concepts were sent for her approval, she selected a beautiful Newgrange-themed brooch made up of ten small panels. So taken was the Queen with the gift that she wore it the very next day at a concert in her honour at the Dublin Convention Centre. Cuff-links for Prince Philip for the same visit were also part of the commission.
A year later, in advance of President Barack Obama’s State Visit, President McAleese was back to Declan again and the chosen gift was his creation of a Celtic-themed set of cuff-links with which Mr Obama was reported to be highly delighted.
Former President Michael D. Higgins maintained the connection with Declan’s studio by commissioning a number of silver and 18-carat gold hallmarked jewellery pieces to present to the Heads of State on overseas visits.'