The View from the Hill....

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Trichinopoly Resources

Online
http://medievalarchaeology392.blogspot.com/2013/05/trichinopoly-project-proposal.html
https://dawnsdressdiary.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/as-viking-knit-april-6-2015.pdf
http://www.relicuus.com/blog/2011/11/03/viking-knit-how-did-it-develop/
https://www.ancientwire.com/what_should_we_call_this_type_of_chain.htm
https://issuu.com/acriacao/docs/vikingsilver

French knit

http://www.dellacivetta.org/serafina/2012/12/05/tracking-the-history-of-viking-wire-weaving/

Loop in loop
http://theringlord.org/derakoninstructions/lilvar.html

http://theringlord.org/derakoninstructions/lil.html

Ebooks

Books and publications
: David Wilson and C.E. Blunt. The Trewhiddle Hoard

Tomantera Braid, Weave, and Foxtail.

Graham-Campbell The Viking Age Gold and Silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100)

Videos
Foxtail Chain pt1 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DqB4wHYiclg

What is Trichinopoly Chain?

Trichiopoly chain is a term used by 19th C archeologists for a contemporary city in India that was known for manufacturing knitted chain. There seems to be no historical context, although I do wonder if the introduction of skilled craftsmen from India to Western Civilization by Alexander the Great impacted metal work the way it impacted textile production. Which might make the association with India meaningful rather than coincidental.

At least three different types of knitted chain are labeled Trichinopoly chain in many museums. The finished chain have a very similar look and can't be distinguished without viewing using a jeweler's loupe (magnification) or being deconstructed.

Loop in loop

Fused links are bent and interlaced to form chain. This is an ancient techniaque requiring specialized equipment and skills. Before approximately 900AD, wire in Europe was rolled from thin strips of metal. The length of the wire was limited. Gold and silver are the most malleable metals and work well for loop in loop.Wire would have been create by being rolled, then formed into links, fused in a furnace (forge), and finally shaped into loops and intertwined. The completed chain was waxed then pulled through a draw plate which would make it finer and longer.

Around 900AD the technology of wire drawing reached Europe. The thin strips of metal were pulled through a draw plate allowing longer, more consistent wire to be formed even out of the less malleable metals like bronze and copper.

Viking knit

The ancient textile technique " Nålebinding which literally translates to needle binding also known as knot less netting was introduced to Europe and the British Isles via the Romans. Once longer lengths of wire became available, the Nalebinding technique was used with this wire to create chain. Most of the extent pieces date to the Viking age and were found in the Dane Law (the areas of Britain that had been under Viking rule). In the 1960's this technique was revived and dubbed Viking Knit.

French knit

Also known as spool knitting.

What I did during the Covid pandemic

I had started learning wire woven chain, aka Viking knit in 2019 but continued making chain during the pandemic.

2019

Double knit in silver craft wire.

Copper, brass and craft wire.

Brass, triple knit. Copper single knit.

2020

And into 2021

2022

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Double Spiral Fibula

Extant double spiral fibula (also called “spectacle fibula by Victorian archaeologists) have been dated between the 10^th to 4^th centuries BC and are mainly associated with the Hallstatt and La Tine cultures. A double spiral fibula is made from a continuous length of bronze or silver wire and can range from 3.7 cm to 20.7 cm.

We are going to make a double spiral fibula of about 5.5 – 6 cm (that’s 2 – 2.5 inches for those of us metric impaired). This is a good size for a light cloak or a chiton. You can scale these instructions up (or down) by changing the gage of wire and the number of spirals used.

This class will not require any previous metal/wire working experience, but you will need wire and some basic tools.

What you’ll need;

Materials;

26 inches of 16 gage wire of your choice (double this if you want to make a pair)

If using 14 gage wire, use 24 inches to get roughly the same size

Tools:

Round nose pliers (or any pliers that you happen to have)

Something to cut the wire with

Something to hammer with (since we are just hammering to work harden, this can be rawhide or a lite jeweler’s hammer)

Something to hammer on (a bench block, jeweler’s anvil, on up to whatever hard surface you might have.

Something to measure with (any kind of ruler)

Something to file the point of the pin (jeweler’s file, Dremel, bench grinder…in a pinch you can use a cosmetic nail file)

The Process

Cut 26 inches of 16 gage wire.
Bend one end ½ inch into a right angle
Bend the other end 2 inches into a right angle. Make sure they face the same direction.
Join the two ends of the wire between the bends to find the middle
Make a small loop in the middle
Take which ever end seems longer and bend into a loop to create an infinity with the other loop
Start coiling from one end. I generally coil counterclockwise. Try to keep it tight and neat and coil up to the infinity in the middle
Repeat on the other end
Hammer the coils to work harden
Hammer the short bend to work harden
Bend the short bend into a catch for the pin. If it is too long, use your wire cutters to snip off a bit. File the end so it won’t snag clothing.
Hammer the long bend to work harden
Check the length of the long bend to make sure it reaches the catch. Cut the tip on an angle to start shaping the point of the pin. If your pin is just long enough cut just a bit. If it is too long, cut as much as needed. Remembering that you still need to make the ½ coil or coil
File the tip to create a sharp end on the pin

Note: Most extant pieces of the double spiral fibula don’t have the coil spring like other fibula of this time period. When you make the coil, you can pull the spiral out of shape.

15a. Hammer to work harden a half coil with the pin facing the catch. The work hardening will provide the spring action.

15b. Make a coil with the long bend as close to the spiral as possible. Bend toward the catch, down around your round nose pliers then back up to face your catch. Neaten up the coil and the spiral. Hammer the spiral again if it is too much out of shape.

Links to extent examples;

https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/double-spiral-fibula

https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/artemis-gallery/large-greek-bronze-double-spiral-fibula-1123929

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/32959653_bronze-double-spiral-fibula-italic-8th-5th-century-bc

https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/fibula/411079

Sunday, April 29, 2012

First Firing in 2012

Here is where the magic happens,


Into the fire!

Bead rack in the can.

Spring is in the air and our thought have turned to thought of FIRE! We were able to do our first firing since last fall today. Hopefully the weather will stay nice and we can get back into a regular production schedule.


Beads, Beads, Beads

With firing, the waiting is the hardest part. Even with Raku. So I made a few things while waiting with the hopes that the beads and pendants will turn out they way I expected.


Coiled wire earings with newly fired Red Raku beads.

Brass, turquoise and glass bead necklace with newly fired Raku pendant


Closeup of newly fired pendant.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Spring finally makes it to the Hill!

Spring has finally made an appearance to our part of the world. We've made it a week without snow. Wildflowers are appearing and our resident Red Tailed Hawks are on the hunt.

Raku Bronze Rabbit

Friday, April 20, 2012

Wrapped, Stacked & Layered Challenge

Almost 80 sites are participating in the Wrapped, Stacked & Layered Challenge Blog Hop organized by Make Bracelets' Tracey Statler. The challenge is just to create an interesting assemblage of wrapped, stacked and or layered bracelets. Here is my stack (you might be able to tell that I am obsessed with coiling wire right now)! #3 and #5 were not made by me.

1. Coiled brass and copper wire with Raku beads
2. Coiled Brass wire
3. Indian brass bangle
4. Silver PMC, Raku and carved horn beads
5. Indian turquoise bangle
6. Coiled copper wire with Raku beads

Thanks for hopping by and be sure to hop to the other participating sites;

makebraceletsblog.com
ahteesblog.blogspot.com
songbeads.blogspot.com
sadafulee.blogspot.com
beadlolabead.blogspot.com

stringsattachedcindi.blogspot.com
carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
cathiecarroll.blogspot.com
pinterest.com/chrisdeweerd
beatnheart.blogspot.com