Visual Typology of Twisted or Plaited Viking Age -Rings. Part 2.

Legend:  Visual Typology of Viking Age
Finger-, Arm-, and Neck-Rings, Figure 1.

This is Part 2 of my blog post series on the visual Typology I've worked on for twisted and/or plaited Viking Age (VA) Finger-Rings, Arm-Rings, and Neck-Rings (-Rings). In this post I will be covering the Legend of my visual typology so that the examples I post in my third blog post will make more sense.

Part 1 covered the most important elements, the metal rods and/or wire they forged and then twisted and/or plaited to form their -Rings.

[IMAGE]

Legend:  Visual Typology of Viking Age Finger-, Arm-, and Neck-Rings, Figure 1

The examples are shown as Cross-Sections to better illustrate the various parts.

SETS: Are usually 2 or 3 Strands, but can be more, of Wire or Rod; most often Twisted together Clockwise. Rods can be tapered at the ends so that the middle is the thickest/widest point.

Example shown. SET  1 x 2, Twisted Clockwise 

BUNDLES: Are usually 2 or 3 Sets, but can be more; most often Plaited together Counter Clockwise.

Example shown. BUNDLE  1 x 2, Plaited Counter Clockwise

Embellishments: Are optional decorative elements for Sets or Bundles, and they are made using Wires of a much smaller diameter than the primary ones used to make the Sets. They are usually either 1 Beaded Wire or made up of 1 or 2 Round Wires. When there are 2 or more Wires they are most often Twisted together Clockwise. 

Embellishments are seated in the 'valleys' created when the Sets are Twisted or the Bundles are Plaited. This means that the same number of Embellishment Wires are used as there are Strands in the Set, or the number of Sets in the Bundle.


Please Note:
Currently, there is no formal descriptive nomenclature to define this based on Ted Bouck's research and networking across the globe, as well as in my own research. My definitions are based on the ones developed by Ted Bouck, which I agree with, he will more fully define them in the future. Please refer to his document, "The processes used to make a twisted or plaited Viking Age "style" armring." Definitions used with permission from Ted Bouck who retails full Copyrights.


All graphics of my Visual Typology of twisted and/or plaited Viking Age Finger-Rings, Arm-Rings, and Neck-Rings are Copyrighted by me.

Visual Typology of Twisted or Plaited Viking Age -Rings. Part 1.

Various Shapes of Forged Wire or Rod
for Viking Age -Rings, Figure 1.

This is Part 1 of my blog post series on the visual Typology I've worked on for twisted and/or plaited Viking Age (VA) Finger-Rings, Arm-Rings, and Neck-Rings (-Rings). 

In this post I will be covering the most important elements, the metal rods and/or wire they forged and then twisted and/or plaited to form their -Rings.

[IMAGE]

Various Shapes of Forged Wire or Rod for Viking Age -Rings, Figure 1.

The extant finds are predominately made of Gold or Silver (sometimes referred to as Fine Silver) as well Gold Alloys (23 Karats and below) or Silver Alloys.  There are also some -Rings identified as 'Copper Alloy' or Bronze. 

Unfortunately, the majority have NOT been tested to determine their exact metallic compositions. Somewhat vague terms tend to be used, which can cause confusion, usually based on how they look.

Example, 'Copper Alloys' could mean any of the various Brass(es) or Bronze(s) we use today, but they are referring to Brass. 

Non-Modern Labels for 'Copper Alloys'

The blanket term 'Copper Alloy' is used within Archaeology to label and encompass a variety of Brass items. The main component of Brass is Copper (Cu) and its secondary one is Zinc (Zn). Even if this alloy is referred to as 'Bronze' it is still 'Brass' because it contains Zinc (Zn) and not Tin (Sn). 

Bronze is an alloy of Copper (Cu) and Tin (Sn). This blanket term does not specify the percentages of either element in the alloy, this can also be seen with the above term used for a Brass, 'Copper Alloy'.

Copper Alloy =  Brass = Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn)

                          Bronze = Copper (Cu) and Tin (Sn)

The Copper Development Association (CDA)

The Copper Development Association (CDA) is an international association that sets the standards for Copper and Copper alloys. They do this by creating internationally recognised ID code numbers that should be strictly followed when using their ID Codes to avoid confusion. 

For example Nickel Silver's CDA code number can be written in any of the following formats: 
CDA#752, CDA #752, CDA 752 or Alloy 752, etc. This specifically identified Copper alloy contain 65% Copper (Cu), 17% Zinc (Zn), and 18% Nickel (Ni), and it goes by various names depending on the sellers preferences: Nickel Silver, German Silver, Nickel Alloy, etc..

The CDA code number can be written in many different ways, as seen above, and yet mean the same thing. Using the CDA approved code for a specified Alloy ensures that the mix of metallic elements, that we are referring to, is the exact Alloy we mean so that there is no doubt. 

I have been unable to find a complete list of the CDA's standards and Alloy code numbers, on any of their websites. Most vendors use different terms for the same Alloy which quickly gets confusing so I compiled information from various websites, PDFs and tables into a table on my personal website entitled, 'Metal Alloy Table'.

For additional information and links please see the section entitled, 'Copper Development Association (CDA)' on my 'Metal Suppliers' resource page. 

Modern ID Codes for Copper Alloys

CDA#230: The modern alloy containing 85% Copper (Cu) and 15% Zinc (Zn), is referred to as Red Brass, Jeweler's Brass, NuGold, Jeweler's Bronze, etc..

CDA#260: The modern alloy containing 70% Copper (Cu) and 30% Zinc (Zn), is referred to as Yellow Brass or Cartridge Brass, etc..

Modern ID Codes for Copper Alloys: Bronze

CDA#521: The modern alloy containing 92% Copper (Cu) and 8% Tin (Sn) is Bronze and it is also referred to as Phosphor Bronze or Grade "C" Phosphor Bronze. 

CDA#521 is also significantly close to the proportions of tested extant Bronze items.

Forging an Ingot into Various
Shapes of Wire or Rod, Figure 2.

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Forging an Ingot into Various Shapes of Wire or Rod, Figure 2.

On a flat anvil, place your wire or rod while holding it with a pair of pliers, hammer from one end to the other along each corner's length and use consistent force. Rotate the wire or rod a quarter turn and repeat these steps until it has parallel sides and a polygon cross-section.

Stages:

Ingot > Square [4] > Octagon [8] > Hexadecagonal [16] > Triacontadigonal [32] > Circle

Anneal when the metal's length is doubled or the thickness is halved. Use the appropriate heat for the metal being used, immediately quench it in clean water. Use non-Ferris tweezers to place it in a warm pickle solution to remove any oxidation. Thoroughly wash the metal and dry the surface before continuing.  

Annealing returns work hardened metal to dead soft by returning its Ductility.

Remove the ragged ends with a saw or use a sharp cutting chisel. Rotate a 1/4 turn after each chisel strike and repeat until you cut through. Leaving the ragged ends could leave cracks or flaking that could get bigger as you work the metal causing a great deal of damage.

Resource: My Video Tutorials and Demos on Vimeo

Gaeira's Anvil...Videos

You can now find my Video Tutorials and Demos on my Vimeo page, Gaeira's Anvil...Videos

I will be uploading my videos on my Vimeo page instead of on fb and posting information and a link as I make and upload new ones.

Please leave constructive criticism so I can improve my future video sessions. The 4 current ones, which were previously posted on FB, will most likely be replaced at some point with updated versions as I improve my video making skills.

https://vimeo.com/gaeirasanvil

Vikings! Exhibit Photographs on Flickr

Vikings! Exhibit on Flickr Web Page

I was fortunate enough to be able to travel twice to Gatineau, Quebec to see the traveling exhibition, Vikings! which took place at the Canadian Museum of History.

These pictures were taken at the  'Vikings' exhibit held at the museum from 3Dec2015 to 17Apr2016.

This was the largest exhibition of Viking Age items to travel to Canada, and probably worldwide, that I have heard of.

Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gaeira/albums

My Academia.edu Page

https://independent.academia.edu/GaeiraAggadottir

For several years now I have been on Academia.edu researching a wide selection of topics and enjoying my discoveries. This week I added links to several of my Blog posts and will continue to do so as I post about my various research and fabrication projects.

If you haven't already discovered this wonderful community of researchers please take the time to go over and see how it is set up. The basic membership is free and that gives you a profile page and the ability to upload files as well as download files.

Since I am not affiliated with a college or university I am considered an independent researcher.


Link: https://independent.academia.edu/GaeiraAggadottir

Hot Work Workstation PDF

I

I spent some time researching and putting together a resource PDF sheet for the fb metalsmithing group I run, Gaeira's Bench and is located in the File section of the group page. I found a variety of tutorials, etc. for hot work: soldering, casting, enameling, 

workstations, etc. that can be easily constructed out of bricks, kiln bricks, steel sheets, steel rods, and/or compressed charcoal blocks, etc. The collage includes the URLs next to each set of images and I added them to the comments section as well for easy access.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GaeirasBench/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GaeirasBench/permalink/1091437530995621/

Viking Age: Jewelry

Viking Age: Jewelry Web Page

There are several dozen metalsmithing related links in my "Viking Age: Jewelry" section located at the top of the left-hand menu on my A&S website, Gaeira's Anvil.

Links to Viking Age related published papers, thesis, articles, tutorials, museums, databases, etc.


Viking Age: Jewelry Links

Metallic
- Construction
- Brooches

Non-Metallic
- Lampwork, Glass Beads 

Icelandic Vikings

Icelandic Viking Web Page

After years of online research and a great deal of frustration, I have gathered resources scattered around the web and created a section about Icelandic Vikings. It is the largest resource I have seen about them to date.

There are also several dozen Viking Age related links in my "Viking Age: Jewelry" and "Viking Age: Textile" sections, located at the top of the left-hand menu on my A&S website, Gaeira's Anvil. 

ICELANDIC VIKINGS Links

- Research: Articles, publications, theses, dissertations, and other sources.

- Textiles: Nålebinding, Warp-Weighted Loom, Tablet Weaving, etc.

- Icelandic Wool: Wool from Icelandic Sheep. 

- Buriel: Buriel practices and research.

- Animals: Icelandic animals.

- Icelandic Wool: From Icelandic Sheep

- Miscellany: A mix of topics: music, etc.

Viking Age: Vikings, the Norse

Viking Age: Vikings, the Norse Web Page

There are several dozen Viking Age related links in my "Viking Age: Jewelry" and "Viking Age: Textile" sections, located at the top of the left-hand menu on my A&S website, Gaeira's Anvil.
Anything that doesn't fall between either category can be found in my section, Viking Age: Vikings, the Norse. 

VIKINGs/Norse Links

They highlight a wide range of topics, with a bit more attention to metalsmithing and textile arts related to Vikings and Medieval Europe:

- Arts: Viking Age Arts and Crafts.

- Buriel: Buriel practices and research

- Clothing: Resources and links related to Viking Age clothing except for "Female Viking 'Apron' Dress (VAD*)"

- 'Heraldic' Display: Boat 'weather vanes', other displays and sailing.

* Viking/ON Names: Links to resources to help find period Old Norse / Viking Age names.

- Runes: Resources and links related to Viking Age Runestones and Picturestones

- Conferences and Organizations

- Voyages: The expansion and travel by the Vikings/Norse
- Miscellany: A mix of topics: the Sagas, Scandinavia(ns), Rus Vikings, etc. 

Known World Heraldic Image Resource

Known World Heraldic Image Resource Web Page

This is my ever growing list of Known World links to images, resources, and information, mainly Heraldic in nature, that I find helpful and informative.
Currently it is called, Known World Heraldic Image Resource on my A&S website, Gaeira's Anvil. 




Link: Known World Heraldic Image Resource 

Crimson Kraken on Pinterest

Pinterest is a beautiful rabbit hole and one of my homes...with well over 10,000 pins on my board, CKraken, covering jewelry and textiles the Viking Age and beyond. I've posted inspiring images, links to tutorials, research finds, and a variety of resources. Jump in!


Link: CKraken

CKraken on Pinterest

Metal Alloy Table

Metal Alloy Table

I put together a Metal Alloy Table on my A&S website, Gaeira's Anvil.

This table helps to organize the variety of information I found online about Copper and Silver alloys which are spread over many sources and can be confusing. From several years of online searches I found that jewelry and metal supplier rarely used the same name for an alloy, they often used different terms which can lead to confusion and potentially purchasing an incorrect metal alloy than what one wanted. 

CDA #: Copper Development Association's standards ID number can be written in many different ways and yet mean the same thing. 

For example CDA #752 or CDA 752 or Alloy 752, etc., can be referred to as Nickle Silver, German Silver, Nickle Alloy, or another term, each is a mix of: 17% Zinc (Zn), 18% Nickle (Ni), and 65% Copper (Cu).

Copper Development Association (CDA) "is part of the Copper Alliance, a global network of Copper Centres, with headquarters in New York (International Copper Association, Ltd) and a regional office in Brussels (European Copper Institute).  (...) resource for technical and professional information regarding copper and copper alloys.":

Canadian Copper and Brass Development Association
Copper Development Association Inc. – USA
European Copper Institute 

Information pages and Publications from the CDA:

Alloys on Copperalliance.org.uk 

"There are more than 400 copper alloys (Brass, Bronze, Nickel Silver, Gunmetals, etc.), each with a unique combination of properties, to suit many applications, manufacturing processes and environments." SOURCE

Copper is a Family of Alloys: "For many applications, properties of copper can be readily customized. This is achieved by alloying: making a new metal out of two or more different metals. The most well-known copper alloy families are brass (copper-zinc), bronze (copper-tin) and copper-nickel. These actually represent families of alloys, all made by varying the amount of specific alloying elements. Alloys can be made to achieve certain colors, improve strength or corrosion resistance, improve forming or joining properties, or achieve any number of specific demands that the individual elements can't achieve on their own. By combining copper with other metals and adjusting the percentages, alloys are made to fit almost any application."

The Copper Alloys Tree (graphic)
Copper Alloys Color Chart & Copper Alloy Table

Copper Education (also Copper Facts)

Jewelry Sawing Tips

Sawing Tips Sheet

I've put together a helpful Sawing Tips Sheet filled with information, tips, and helpful graphics for jewelry sawing. It can be found on my A&S website, Gaeira's Anvil.