Chainmaille Jewelery
What is Chainmaille Jewelery?The use of mail as armor was prominent throughout the Dark Ages, High Middle Ages and Renaissance. Several patterns of linking the rings together have been known since ancient times, with the most common being the 4-to-1 pattern (where each ring is linked with four others). In Europe, the 4-to-1 pattern was completely dominant. Mail was also common in East Asia, primarily Japan, with several more patterns being utilized and an entire nomenclature developing around them. There are currently over 700 documented chainmaille weaves. Currently, chainmaille has applications in sculpture and jewelry, especially when made out of precious metals or colorful anodized metals. Recent trends in chainmaille artwork include headdresses, Christmas ornaments, chess sets, and all manner of jewelery. For these non-traditional applications, hundreds of new weaves or patterns have been invented. Chainmaille jewelery can be made from virtually any material that can be formed into a circle. This includes most metals as well nontraditional jewelry materials such as rubber.
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Victoria Park Arts and Crafts Fair ~ August 6, 7, 8 2010 Lengths can be adjusted to personal preference. Caring For Your Chainmaille JeweleryGeneral Instructions -Keep jewelery away from household cleaners and chlorine. -When not wearing your jewelery, store each piece in its own ZiplocŪ or soft fabric bag. Keep in a dark place. This reduces tarnish, keeps softer metals from being scratched, and preserves colored rings longer. - Always handle your jewelery gently. Remember that most chainmaille links are not soldered closed, and can therefore be pulled open. Treat your chainmaille just as you would handle a delicate pearl necklace or crystal bracelet. -Your jewelery can pick up dirt, oil, and even odors. To clean most metals (sterling silver, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, niobium, and gold-fill), soak jewelery in soapy water (use non-lotion dishwashing soap) for several minutes. Then lather with soap and gently but briskly rub the jewelery between your palms. Rinse with warm water and let air dry, or use a blow dryer on lowest and coolest setting. Caring for Copper Chainmaille Jewelery Copper is a reddish colored metal that corrodes quite easily. It starts the color of a shiny new penny and can either darken or turn depending on how it is used. Dipping your copper jewelery in a mixture of 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar for several hours. Wash with soap in hot water. Rinse the piece well after dipping and dry it before storing. Alternatively, make a paste of lemon juice and salt, and rub with a soft cloth, rinse with water, and dry. When storing your copper jewelery, keep it in a moisture proof container or zip lock bag. You can also add a "silica gel" package (those little packets you find in new purses, backpacks, etc that say "do not eat") to absorb any moisture and prevent tarnishing. Polish with a commercial polish for copper following directions on the container
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