A graphic pattern inspired by modern interpretations of Sardinian rugs made using the pibiones and littos techniques.
The history of the Gancios symbol:
The history of weaving, whose origins are believed to date back even before 4000 BC, has spanned centuries, beginning in its native homelands of Anatolia and Egypt before spreading throughout Europe.
Sardinian craftsmanship until the 19th century saw the widespread use of the vertical loom, followed by the horizontal loom from the 20th century onwards.
Weaving on this type of loom, known as a telargiu, involves intertwining and knotting the warp and weft threads with the help of a shuttle to create the typical embroidery and designs of Sardinian weaving.
One of the most famous is "is gancios".
- The symbolic form of this design is the Anatolian swastika, which most likely arrived in Sardinia during the island's conquests and through past trade exchanges.
The Anatolian swastika is a design widespread in all textile cultures, and every people attributes a specific meaning to it.
Srdn reinterprets the figure without losing its original character, preserving its symbolic meaning to spread the unmistakable Sardinian design and make it pop through clothing, beach towels, accessories, and textile products.
From the Sanskrit svastika-, derived from svasti- 'prosperity' and ka- small.
The swastika is one of the world's oldest symbols, to the point of being able to be defined as an archaic, almost archetypal symbol.
The swastika is present throughout Asia and in the primitive civilizations settled in the Indus Valley. It was widely used by Jains, Buddhists, and the followers of Vishnu.
We also find it widespread in the pre-Columbian Americas, both in the North and South of the country, as well as evidence of its use among the Hittites, in Cyprus, and in the city of Troy. Studies have also found traces of it in Central Europe, as well as in the western part, the Mediterranean, and the northern regions, including Iceland, Lapland, and Finland.
The swastika often appears alongside both male and female deities. Since it has been associated with the feminine principle in some cases, it was hypothesized that it could represent the four lunar phases, while in reality, we have seen that it is predominantly linked to solar and generative symbols, which are also expressed through images of a lion, deer, ram, lotus, or birds.
We can find the swastika reproduced on altars, urns, ceremonial clothing, tools, weapons, shields, garments, coins, and even spindles (in this last case, it is thought that the swastika depicts the whirling motion of the tool).
In every circumstance, when this symbol appears, it is intended to evoke the concept of blessing, good luck, longevity, fertility, health, and a good life.
- In many circumstances, the swastika represents dualism, therefore the principles of male and female, the solar and lunar aspects, and clockwise and counterclockwise motion. Some see in it the two hemispheres, the celestial and chthonic powers, the rising sun of spring, and the setting sun of autumn.
- The Indian swastika is represented in both combinations of the symbols, where the 'right-facing' one depicts the rising sun and life force, while the one with rays facing left represents the goddess Kali, feminine power, and darkness.
Evidence that the swastika with rays oriented counterclockwise is to be considered an expression of the feminine also comes from some images of Artemis and Astarte, where the symbol is placed inside the triangle that identifies feminine attributes. In China, for example, the two swastikas are used to indicate the forces of Yin and Yang.
There is also a related symbol formed by two overlapping swastikas, called the 'Solomon's Knots', which indicates the impenetrability and immensity of the divine. In some cases, the swastika has also been associated with the symbol of the 'key', absorbing the meaning and symbolism of the tool that opens the doors of knowledge.
In Buddhism, the swastika is used to represent esoteric doctrine, the Wheel of Life, and one of the Eight Auspicious Signs. It also often appears on the footprint of the Buddha.
- In China, the swastika is considered an ancient form of the character 'fang' (a type of character in writing that is defined as 'square' 'power'), which designated the four quarters of space and the earth, and is often associated with this definition: "The accumulation of fortunate signs of the Ten Thousand Effective Things". Used as a 'margin', it symbolizes the "Wan Tzu", the primary principle, the Ten Thousand Things or Continuity, that is, the eternal duration characterized by the absence of beginning and end, perpetual renewal.
- In the Chinese tradition, the swastika also embodies perfection, movement guided by the rules of universal laws, longevity, blessing, and good luck. Also called the "Thunder Scroll", the blue swastika is associated with celestial virtues, the red one with the sacred and infinite virtues of the Buddha's heart, the yellow one with infinite prosperity, and the green one with infinite virtues in agriculture.
The swastika drawn clockwise is linked to Yang-type energy, while the one drawn counterclockwise is associated with Yin-type energy.
- For Greek culture, the swastika represents an attribute of Zeus understood as the god of the sky and of Helios as a solar deity. It is often depicted together with Hera, Ceres, and Artemis.
- In Islam, however, this symbol is present especially for Muslims in Asia, for whom it symbolizes the 'four cardinal points' and the control over the four seasons by the Angels, one for each cardinal point: to the West the Judge, to the South Death, to the North Life, and to the East the Angel of Announcement.
- In Scandinavian culture, the swastika indicates the war axe or the hammer of Thor, as the god of air, thunder, and lightning, and signals good luck. Specifically, in Lithuania, it is reproduced in Sanskrit and represents good luck, in addition to having talismanic value.
Very probably, the Sardinian swastika originates from this last one and blends with depictions in the Christian religious context, where it often appears as a symbol impressed on catacombs. It depicts Christ as the power of the world, in fact, in the Middle Ages it was considered the 'swastika cross' that symbolized Christ as the cornerstone on which Everything rests, or it represented the four Evangelists with Christ in the center represented by a flower. The four branches represent the bonds, and it is from this word that it most likely translates into Gancios.
Srdn takes this concept and modifies its design, making it more contemporary. In the redesign process, 6 petals are removed from the original flower, so the center is composed only of two diamonds as if they were eyes.
The swastika of Is Gancios becomes pop and, from remote antiquity, spreads through products accessible to everyone.
Discover Srdn products made with this ancient talisman.