Chainmaille. Smart-aleck Competition. Serious Documentation.
Materials: Anodized Aluminum Jump Rings
St. Eligius Art Competition; November 12, 2016
"Shiny!" -TV Show, Firefly
Chainmaille hat based on medieval coif/hauberk pattern. What did you make or do? (Include name or description of entry with time period, location, info on its use & background.) I created a chainmaille hat in homage to a man named Jayne, a character from a science fiction television show called “Firefly”. What is the connection between your entry and a medieval item or practice? Chainmaille, historically, was created and used for armor. This hat was woven using a documented period weave, European 4-in-1. Mail dates back to over 3000 years ago, with the most similar version of
this European patterned weave documented to the Gauls in 200 BC. (TRL)
How would your entry have been made/done in period?
The piece that I have created absolutely wouldn’t have been in medieval ages. I patterned it after a historical coif, it would not have been worn open in front/back, nor would it have a beanie poof or dangles at its ears. Mail was worn as armor for protection. There is little of that provided in this design. Colored rings were not known in the medieval time period, nor was aluminum.
Hand-drawn steel was made by pulling wire through a plate, the Blacksmith “form(ed) them into little interlocking rings through the use of a hand-cranked machine” (TRL). The wire was wound around a wooden form to create a coil of iron wire. The coil was split down its length to create a number of open iron rings (Hurstwick). At times, these rings were combined with links that were punched out of a sheet of metal, to add strength and durability to the finished piece.
10th century drawplate from Norway (Hurstwic) Riveted rings are those where the wire has been flattened and the ends of the wire overlap each other. Another piece of metal is then hammered through both, joining them together. This adds much to the stability of the piece as a whole, and provides strength to rings that could otherwise be pulled apart. How was yours made/done? "Jayne Chain" was created using pre-cut anodized aluminum rings and long nose commercial pliers. Unlike true hand-made wire rings, these rings are uniform, as they have been made using modern machinery. I used the European 4-in-1 weave, with the ends of the rings butted together as close as possible. No rivets. No punched metal. In order to fit the shape of a head, I expanded and contracted the seams by adding or subtracting rings. The poof and dangles were made using a Japanese style ball. What are some similarities and differences in materials, process, tools, approach? * Differences: Spring jointed pliers/smoother wire/no rivets * Similarities: Woven in a similar manner; alternating directions to provide strength; using butted ends What inspired you? I started working with chainmaille a little over three years ago, even before attending my first SCA event, as an attempt at recovering from a debilitating wrist injury. The grip on the pliers, combined with the force needed to close saw-cut jump rings has helped me to regain some of my former strength, and the use of my right hand.
Having done Renaissance faires for many years, I have always had an interest in armor and its applications. It was in trying to decide what frivolous ensemble to wear for “the day of wrong” that I realized that that my interest could be used in a medium that would fit and amuse others. Sitting side-by-side while a friend was knitting a scarf, as I was making a Byzantine chain, I came to the realization that while our materials were different, we were, in fact, working the same process. Why then, I thought, could I not have a hat made out of chainmaille. Once sparked, the creative bug refused to settle.
I am also a huge fan of Firefly and felt the need to pay homage to this short-lived, but much loved television show.
What was your favorite part of preparing your entry?
To see this farce turned idea come to a successful fruition was amazing. I had not previously toyed with the idea of making any type of armor, instead, using the skills and weaves to create jewelry.
What would you do differently next time?
If making this piece again, I would give myself more than a few weeks to create it, and my color blocks would be more evenly distributed.
What references or sources would you recommend to someone interested in your work? (You can bring your book(s) &/or copies of articles so people can make notes about your sources.)
http://theringlord.org/introtomailling/history.htm http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_mail.htm
https://www.scribd.com/document/93280936/Coif-Tutorial
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
How did you find your sources of information?
Online
Did you find a connection to a medieval artisan while working on your entry? If so, what? (Medieval Moment)
Seeing the coif and realizing that it was easily modified as a beanie
hat... a-ha!
Any last thoughts or amusing stories about your work?
As previously stated, I created this" Jayne Chain" hat to wear at the Renaissance Faire. Throughout the day, I was approached by many people who share a love for the show, the character, the cult following that this hat has. I patterned a cover for my leather cincher that mimicked a t-shirt graphic of the face of Jayne, and the name of the town that honored his valiant efforts, which turned out to be a cruel twist of fate. The crowning moment, however, was in walking through the grounds, I hear the unmistakable sound of a group of young women singing the song from the television show: Hero of Canton. I, in all my "Jayne Chain" glory, was serenaded, just like the man named Jayne!
Comments