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WIRE ART HISTORY

For many centuries wire art of some form has been in use as unique adornment in jewelry and wearable items.

It is said to date back even before the Ancient Phoenicians and has been found in Egyptian tombs.

It is said that an Egyptian goldsmith was the first craftsman to produce a jewelry item made entirely of wire.  This was around 4000 years ago.  The design used was a combination of coils and coiled links fitted together to form the item.  This concept was passed down and is seen in various forms throughout the ages.

It is also said that finds in Scandinavia have shown that the Vikings made chains of metal wire.  These were made from either fine or coarser wire and were not soldered.  Vikings "knitted" their wire into jewelry by using a looping techinic that actually predated our traditional knitting techniques !  They did this by back stitching the wire in loops to make something that resembled twisted knit stitches.  Usually this form used very fine wire and is very beautiful.  There are wire artists today who use those same techniques to produce beautiful pieces !!

As time went on, different cultures discovered ways to set stones, glass and other items into the wire pieces creating what we know today as our wire art.

Mr C.G. Oxley, one of the more famous wire artists, built a business in England before the First World War.

He used mainly glass beads and plain wire designs and the art form became very popular.  In fact you would even find it in department stores sometimes with an artist working at the counter.

Personally, I remember even in the mid '60's going to a state fair and watching the wire artist with awe as he created a beautiful ring or bracelet or set a precious stone for a waiting customer.  Being a young child, it was like watching a fairy tale and set in me a desire to learn to do that someday.  :-)

Even as far back as the early 1920-30's a wire bracelet cost as much as $30-$40 in todays money.  Since it was such  unique jewelry, it was intriguing.  Many families have passed those pieces down as heirloom pieces which they truly are.  

The Wire

Filigree is a type of metal manipulation that creates wire from metal hammered into thin sheets  and then cut into thin strips which creates a form of wire.  This could then be woven for ancient garments such as breast plates.   Many times you will see complex Filigree designs.  

Copper, gold and silver were the first metals to be found.  Brass (which contains copper and zinc) was one of the first alloys.   An alloy is a mixture of metals.   People found they could use these metals to create beautiful pieces of jewelry that were lightweight and strong.

Until the Middle Ages, wire was hammered into shape by using a form.  Now it is drawn through "drawplates" which have a series of holes each smaller than the other.  This forms it and gives it the "gauge".  The lower the number, the larger the wire diameter.  Wire can be found in round, square or triangle shapes as well as 1/2 round.  This last is used as a binding wire many times because it creates much less bulk.  

Metals can be mixed in a piece to give it a unique look.  Different shades of metal can highlight different designs.  Copper and Silver, or Silver and Gold are common mixes.

Other metals used in jewelry are Niobium, Titanium, Surgical Steel, Annodized Aluminum and Colored Copper wire.  Each has it's advantages.  Niobium, Titanium and Surgical Steel are hypoallergenic metals and many people can wear jewelry made from these with no problem.  People allergic to Sterling Silver can usually wear Fine Silver which is a nearly pure form of the metal.  

14K Gold Filled or "Rolled Gold" is made by heat and pressure bonding a layer of gold to brass.  Unlike Electroplated,  Gold Filled will NOT wear off.  Electoplating has only a microscopic layer of gold compared to that acual LAYER of gold in Gold Filled.    

The VALUE of Gold Filled is also much greater than Electroplated wire because is contains MUCH MORE GOLD.  It will not wear or rub off with normal wear.  Most people who have allergic reactions to nickle can wear gold filled jewelry with no problems.  

This is an economical choice--you get the look and feel of gold for a fraction of the cost.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial.  Please visit the online store if you are interested in purchasing any products.  Sylcraft Online Store      Thanks so much for stopping by.