AncientWire
Location
Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Quick Blurb
When I learned of this method of making beautiful, intricate chains, I was completely enchanted.
Interests
Viking Wire Weaving
Viking Chain Knitting
Viking Knit
Skills and Techniques
Viking Wire Weaving
Viking Chain Knitting
Viking Knit
Get to Know
For years I searched for a method to make my own jewelry without having to work with heat and fire, or to buy expensive tools. When I learned of this method of making beautiful, intricate chains, I was completely enchanted. The materials can be readily purchased and the tools required are few and not cumbersome, so this is a very portable craft.
I have been teaching this craft almost as long as I have been practicing it - over 20 years. My students are a great joy to me, and I usually learn something new with each class that I teach. But I realize that I can't meet each of you, so I have put the many things that I have learned through the years into this book. I have found that people learn differently and that some methods are easier than others for each person to master, so I will teach you different techniques for accomplishing steps, enabling you to choose what works best for you.
With the techniques presented in Ancient Wire, you will be able to create items like the ones found in Viking burials and treasure hoards across the Nordic countries dating from the 9th century to the late 12th century. Wire chains made in this fashion have also been discovered in the British Isles (875 AD) and in the Roman, Greek and Byzantine civilizations from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD. Some researchers believe that this type of jewelry originated in the orient, and that many of the items may have been imported from there.
This book will not only instruct you how to make the chains, but methods to embellish them as well. Once you are comfortable with the basic technique, go on to explore the more complex items later in the book. I have given guidelines for these to get you started, but feel free to change them to suit your needs and desires. When I couldn't find instructions for creating some of the items that I wanted, I worked them out and the result of my labor of love is within the pages of my book. I hope the guidelines will inspire you as well.
It's my hope that you will be as enchanted with this craft as I am and that you will create your own objects of beauty.
Helene Jacobs
I have been teaching this craft almost as long as I have been practicing it - over 20 years. My students are a great joy to me, and I usually learn something new with each class that I teach. But I realize that I can't meet each of you, so I have put the many things that I have learned through the years into this book. I have found that people learn differently and that some methods are easier than others for each person to master, so I will teach you different techniques for accomplishing steps, enabling you to choose what works best for you.
With the techniques presented in Ancient Wire, you will be able to create items like the ones found in Viking burials and treasure hoards across the Nordic countries dating from the 9th century to the late 12th century. Wire chains made in this fashion have also been discovered in the British Isles (875 AD) and in the Roman, Greek and Byzantine civilizations from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD. Some researchers believe that this type of jewelry originated in the orient, and that many of the items may have been imported from there.
This book will not only instruct you how to make the chains, but methods to embellish them as well. Once you are comfortable with the basic technique, go on to explore the more complex items later in the book. I have given guidelines for these to get you started, but feel free to change them to suit your needs and desires. When I couldn't find instructions for creating some of the items that I wanted, I worked them out and the result of my labor of love is within the pages of my book. I hope the guidelines will inspire you as well.
It's my hope that you will be as enchanted with this craft as I am and that you will create your own objects of beauty.
Helene Jacobs
