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In 950 AD, Danish Viking artisans carved the walrun ivory panels of the famous Bamberg Casket which later became known as the jewelry box of Queen Kunigunde. On either side of the key hole in the lid of the box are eagles. This cross was designed using those eagles.

The design for this cross is inspired by bas-relief carvings that detail the nave of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in the North Beach district of San Francisco. This church was founded by the Salesian order which is the 3rd largest order in the Catholic Church. Based on a dedication of service to youth and family, the order was founded in the 19th century in the Piedmont area of northwest Italy by St. John Bosco.

At the beginning of Christian era the crescent moon became associated with the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception. Over time this motif began to incorporate other design elements such as hands, crosses and stars and was used as a protection amulet against illness and witches.

Today, this ancient lunar symbolism can be recognized in the ‘Naja’, the central element in a traditional Navajo Squash Blossom necklace.

George Washington was descended from the Sulgrave Washing-tons of Yorkshire. This cross is the center-piece of a memorial plaque for George’s great-grandfather, Sir Lawrence Wash-ington who is buried in the Garsdon Church-yard near Malmsbury where the family lived from 1631. The plaque features the “Mullets and Bars” of the Washington family’s Coat of Arms. This design later became the basis for the “Stars and Stripes” of the American flag.

The Washington family perpetuated its British connections well beyond most American families. The immigrant ancestor, John and his son Lawrence, continued to own land in both Virginia and England for half a century after coming to America. George’s brother Lawrence married into the aristocratic Fairfax family and the President spent much time in their company; he clearly admired and emulated their lifestyle in later years.

St. Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris. She was born in the village of Nanterre near Paris and died in 507. She was chiefly instrumental in banishing paganism from Paris. The procession of the relics of St. Genevieve through is believed to have ended an epidemic, thus she is the special saint prayed to during disasters and fevers.

The Feast Day of St. Genevieve is January 3rd. She was not martyred, but died of natural causes.

There are patron saints for almost any-thing one can think of. Thus, there is a patron saint of television! On February 17, 1958, Pope Pius XII designated St. Clare as the patron saint of television, on the basis that, when she was too ill to attend a Mass, she had been miraculously able to see and hear it on the wall of her room.

Clare was born in 1194 at Assisi, into a wealthy and noble Italian family, the eldest daughter of Favorino Scifi, Count of Sasso-Rosso. She heard St. Francis speak and was inspired to leave her rich home and establish an order of nuns called the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) at San Damiano. She led this order for 40 years until her death.

The town of San Miguel Allende, Mexico, was founded by Franciscan monks in 1542. It was an important stopover on the Antiguo Camino Real, part of the silver route from the plains of Zacatecas. It was declared a national historic monument in 1926 and as a result, the center of the city still retains much of its beautiful Spanish Colonial architecture such as, La Parroquia, the cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel.

This cross combines Spanish and indigenous design influences.

The use of worn horseshoes as lucky amulets originated in Europe. There is good reason to suppose that the crescent form of the horseshoe links the symbol to pagan moon goddesses and later to the Virgin Mary, who is often depicted standing on a crescent moon.

Horseshoes are commonly nailed above or beside doors to ‘gather luck’. The potency of the horseshoe as an amulet is also associated with San Martin Caballeros, or Saint Martin the Horse-rider, who cut his cloak in half and gave it to a beggar. That night he dreamed that Jesus was wearing the half-cloak. Consequently, he was baptized and for the remainder of his life, he worked among the poor.

Galloway is the southernmost shire in Scotland. This land-scape of green rolling hills contains many historic sites, a 300 acre forest park and many picturesque vil-lages.

The inspiration for this cross was drawn from designs on the many fine grave slabs at the ruined Abbey of Dundrennan near Kirkcudbright. This unique freestone ashlar building was founded in 1142 and was modeled on the elaborate and ornate style of Reivaulx Abbey in Yorkshire. Monastic life at the abbey ceased in 1560, but it continued to be used as the parish church for almost another 200 years.

Most cultures have a story about the Tree of Life. There is a 1,200 BC Taoist tale of a sacred tree that grew one peach every 3,000 years. The person who ate the peach would live forever. Genesis describes the Tree of Life and Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. A Viking legend explains that Odin hung himself on the Tree of Life for nine days to gain knowledge. The Assyrian warriors of 1,200 BC carved a Tree of Life into their armor to protect them in battle. There is a Hindu legend of a sacred tree that connects the earth to the sky. Pre-Cplumbian cultures also believed that there was a sacred tree connecting earth to heaven. During the Christian conversion era in Mexico, their Tree of Life was combined with the Cross of Christ. This cross is an example from that era.

St. Palladius was born to an ancient and noble Gallo-Roman family and lived in Rome where he was a Deacon. He was sent by Pope St. Celestine I to evangelize in Ireland in 429. However, he faced strong opposition from the Pelagianists who preached that original sin did not taint human nature. He built chruches at Keeleen Cormac, Tigroney and Donard but finally decided that the Irish were not ready to receive his message. He went to Scotland where he evangelized among the Picts. He was consecrated bishop of the Scots in 431. He died in 432 at Fordun, Aberdeen, Scotland, where he is buried. He is considered one of the patron saints of Scotland.

Florence, Italy was established in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. The name means The Flourishing. Florence is considered to be the birth place of the Italian Renaissance and Florentine design. In the historic quarter of Santa Croce there is the Basilica of the Holy Cross which dates from 1294. In one of the small cloisters there is a monument to Florence Nightingale who was born in, and named for Florence.

This cross was inspired by the magnificent high altar in the Basilica.

King Henry VIII and his Queen, Ann Boleyn, stayed at Thornbury Castle and attended Mass at St. Mary's Church just behind. Although this cross was found in the church, it is locally referred to as the Thornbury Cross. It dates from the late 14th century when work to rebuild the church was begun. Both the castle and the church are located in the English Cotswolds.

Two of the most powerful symbols are the circle and the heart. The circle represents eternity, while the heart symbolizes love -- together they represent eternal love. When combined with the Cross, they symbolize the eternal love He has for us.

Mary of Magdala is a powerful patron saint of women. She served Christ and was baptized by St. Maximin. She was canonized by the process known as the "Sense of the Faithful" long before the Church had created the formal act of canonization. This cross is dedicated to her and the women she protects.

In 1812, shortly after the defeat of Napoleon, the Imperial Russian government authorized the charter of the Russian-American Company. Fort Ross, more properly known then as Krepost Ross or Fortress Ross, was built as the Company's most southerly outpost at Metini of California's Sonoma coast. This medallion is a combination of two important symbols of that era, the Imperial Russian double-headed eagle and the traditional Russian Orthodox baptismal cross. On the front of the cross are the initials IC for Jesus and XC for Christ.

This cross was inspired by a simple poem by an unknown author.

In her eyes the look of loving.

In her smile the warmth of caring.

In her hands the touch of comfort.

In her heart the gift of sharing.

Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie in Scotland, was born in Rome in 1720. Descended from James II of England, he was considered claimant to the thrones of Scotland and Ireland. In 1745 he left France where he had been living in exile for some time. He landed in Scotland and began a military campaign to take the throne. This ended in disaster on Culloden moor and he fled to the Isle of Skye and eventually returned to France.

This cross is a combination of Celtic knot work and the Fleur-de-Lis, symbols of the many historical connections between France and Scotland.

The Ankh, or crux anasata, appears frequently in Egyptian tomb paintings. It represents both the male and female and is thought to be emblematic of strength and health; also the truth that a fruitful union is a gift from the deity. Mirrors of beaten metal were often made in the shape of an Ankh to symbolize a perceived view into another world.

The Ankh, construed as a sun symbol, was often crafted in gold or burnished copper. The Coptic Christians preserved the design of the Egyptian Ankh in their representation of the Christian cross.

The Nasrani Menorah is also known as the Mar Thoma Cross. The six branches, (three on either side of the cross) represent God as the burning bush, while the central branch holds the cross. A stylistic dove at the top of the cross represents the Holy Spirit. In all, there are seven branches in the icon, representing the Jewish menorah and the Christian cross.

The Nasrani Menorah is part of the Judeo-Christian tradition of the Nasrani people of Kerala, South India.

This cross is a contemporary design inspired by a bas-relief on an outer wall of the Basilica of Sacre Coeur in Paris, France.

It consists of a traditional four-armed cross with a central motif of the Sacred Heart surrounded by a Crown of Thorns. It is a symbol of the love and sacrifice of Christ.

This cross is a contemporary design inspired by a bas-relief on an outer wall of the Basilica of Sacre Coeur in Paris, France.

It is a combination of several symbols - the Sacred Heart, a traditional cross and a seashell. The shell is a symbol of pilgrimage and is most often seen as a part of Spanish crosses, particularly those concerned with the pilgrim's trail to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, the burial place of St. James.

St. Hyacinth was born in 1185 and was canonized in 1594. In Latin countries he is known as San Jacinto and he is the patron saint of those in danger of drowning.

He is also the patron saint of St. Hyacinth's Basilica in Chicago, Illinois. The interior of this basilica is done in opulent Baroque style and the facade has a rare three-towered design.

This cross is inspired by magnificent crowns worn by statues of the Madonna and Child.

St. Thomas was born in 1118. He was King Henry II's chancellor and later the Archbishop of Canterbury. He found himself in almost constant opposition to the King and was eventually sent into exile. Although he was later recalled, he still opposed the King. Three days after Christmas Day, 1170, he was murdered at the altar of his cathedral in Canterbury by four of the King's knights. His martyrdom led to his canonization in 117.

St. Martin was born in 316 into a military family. His father was a tribune in the Roman Imperial Horse Guard. At the age of fifteen, Martin joined the cavalry and served in France. While there, he had a vision in which he shared his cloak with Christ. Before the battle against the Gauls at Worms in 336, he refused to fight saying he was no longer a Roman soldier, but was now a soldier of Christ. He was jailed for cowardice. In his defense, he volunteered to go to the front of his troops and lead them into battle unarmed. The charge was dropped and he was released from military service. He was consecrated Bishop of Tours. He died on November 8, 397. His shrine has become a famous stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. St. Martin of Tours is a patron saint of soldiers.

For over 800 years travelers or romeros, have made the pilgrimage or romeria to the isolated Andalucian village of Almonte, Spain to honor the village's patron saint, the Virgen de Rocio. Many of the romeros make the journey on horse back and wear the traditional clothes of Andalucia. The traditional manta estribera is tied across the front of the saddle. After completing their pilgrimage the romeros pin this cross to that saddle drape to symbolize their journey and to honor the Virgen del Rocio. This cross combines a very old symbol for the Virgin Mary with the Christian cross.