Patterned wire

Lisa_Orlando 2004-09-01 10:00:47 UTC #1

I just received my copy of the new Otto Frei tool catalog (thank you, John). It's a huge improvement--very easy on the eyes, and with a sense of humor too.

They have draw plates for a couple of dozen different shapes of wire (plus, you can special order hundreds of others). I admit that I don't really know a whole lot about what's out there in jewelry tool land, but I've never seen anything like this before.

Of course, they cost a pretty penny, but, when I have a home again, and some money, I'm going to get a garage door opener and set up a draw bench and make some wild stuff. It never seemed worth it for plain wire...

Usual disclaimers--but notice that Otto Frei has become an Orchid supporter.

Lisa Orlando
Aphrodite's Ornaments
In a motel in Vallejo, CA

PS: Jack Ogden's book describes ancient, low tech ways of making patterned wire (wire was originally made of strips, not drawn). You can make beaded wire by rolling a patterned mold onto annealed wire. If you can't picture that, talk to your librarian...

Trevor_F2 2004-09-01 22:45:04 UTC #2

PS: Jack Ogden's book describes ancient, low tech ways of making
patterned wire (wire was originally made of strips, not drawn). You
can make beaded wire by rolling a patterned mold onto annealed wire.
If you can't picture that, talk to your librarian...

Or better yet, track down a copy of the book and add it to your
library. It is a treasure trove of on ancient styles,
techniques and methods of production and, IMHO, worth every nickel. It
took me 6 months to find a good copy at a fairly reasonable price and
I'm very glad I did. The quotes I see on it today are rubbish. Bide
your time, keep looking and you'll likely find a copy for $50 or less
as I did.

The original is the one to get, "Jewellery of the Ancient World"
(note the UK spelling), published 1982 by Rizzoli in the US or
Trefoil in the UK, ISBN 0847804445.

Jewellery of the ancient world
By Jack Ogden
Price: $50.00

http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books/us/product/0847804445.htm

I've seen the similarly named book "Ancient Jewellery" by the same
author and it is not to be confused with the Rizzoli book as it is
quite the lesser of the two.

Cheers,
Trevor F.