Classical Loop-in-Loop Chains And Their Derivatives

ThiS is not only a book of instruction in chainmaking but it is also a work celebrating man's continuous creativity over thousands of years. At times something that man creates has far-reach­ ing effects; an example that quickly comes to mind is the wheel, which has enabled many devel­ opments, from pottery to computers. At this point it is important to note that these same wheels could not have been made without metal tools. From early Neolithic times on gold was a favorite choice in the making of jewelry. During the Neolithic period these "shining stones," probably alluvial, were prized. Actually gold was cold worked as if it were a stone. There is a surviving example of cold-worked gold from Catahuyuk (present day Turkey) estimated to have been made in 6500 B. C. There were only four metals on the earth's surface that were found in sufficient quantity to be used: gold, copper, silver, and meteoric iron. An understanding of the malleability of gold, and of the annealing effect of fire, changed jewelry making; new forms were found. Gold was no longer a piece of stone but a material that could be flattened and made very thin. Sheet and foil are the oldest forms of worked gold. The smiths' tools were stone, wood, and horn.

1 Origins and Applications of Loop-in-Loop Chains.- 2 General Information.- 3 Single Loop-in-Loop Chains (One in One, One Direction).- 4 Pinched Loop Chains (One in One, Perpendicular, One Direction).- 5 Double Loop-in-Loop Chains (One in Two, One Direction).- 6 Multidirectional Loop-in-Loop Chains (One in One, Two or More Directions; One in Two, Two or More Directions).- 7 Multiple Soldered Loop-in-Loop Chains.- 8 Multiple Woven Loop-in-Loop Chains.- 9 Clasps and Terminations.- Recommended Dowel Diameters and Wire Gauges for Basic Chain Types.- Dowel Diameter Relationships.- Troy Weights.- Alloying 22k Gold for Fused Loop Chains.- Drawing Wire.- Working in Gold.- Melting Points of Silver and Silver Solders.- Melting Points of Gold and Gold Solders.- Equipment, Tools and Supplies.- Some Sources of Equipment, Tools and Materials.