Month 4 - Still Roman

This was another exercise in repeatability and batch making links. It was easier to make the filigree than I thought it would be. The shape is very forgiving. First step was to make and solder the outer hoops. 

Then I rough cut and formed the filigree in a batch, and then went through and did the fitting and adjustment. 

I had to do very little cutting at this point. I then soldered that on. This was my first go using paste solder for some of the filigree. I used medium, and it worked very nicely. See my previous post if you want a bit more of my musings on soldering. Though I will say that that post was a bit too optimistic. I had to re-fire most of my second batch, and I still managed to melt a jump ring. 

On to that, I made jump rings for the bails and attached those last. It went really quickly, all things considered, in two batches of five. 

The final necklace is strung with agates. The original (at The Met) had glass "paste" beads. I couldn't find glass beads the right size and shape, and I really struggled to find anything that would fit the late Roman empire, but I have multiple written sources that site agate being used in jewelry, so I was happy to find the beads that I have. 

September Project: Roman Earrings

This month has a lot going on, so I wanted a quick project. I didn't expect it to be this quick! I finished these in an afternoon. I'll probably make a second pair. I want to try harder to get all the links to close up completely, even if I have to solder them separately. They're amazingly tiny and fiddly, made with 20 ga fine silver. The hooks are the same wire, and the beads are wired on with 24 ga. Next time, I'm going to see if I have any 22 ga. I think it'll be better. Getting the twists around was tricky, and i think that shows. The plate is 26 ga, and I think it's perfect. The originals are at the British Museum, 3rd century Roman in origin.

A few progress photos: 

Project 3!

Continuing my work with Hercules knots, this is my first interpretation of a common motif in necklaces. Most examples I've found have been from auction sites, though the Walters Museum has at least two in their collection, and the below example is from the British Museum. All the examples that I've seen have had emerald or otherwise green beads. It's sometimes listed as green agate. I really only trust the museums so much in correctly identifying ancient stones. One thing the museums and auction sites do seem to agree on is that most examples date from the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE.

This example below, which may or may not be at the British Museum (I found it on Pinterest, and reverse image search didn't bring up anything definitive. It could be a modern copy, but the bead quality and cut makes me doubt that), is what I based my knots on. Mine are definitely not perfect, but this was meant to be a quick project to get my feet wet again. Success! My feet are wet, and my goal is to remake this with better knots that are a little smaller. I think I also want to shoot more for the shape of the one above, with a completely closed neck. 

One final example from the British Museum, an individual link that's 2.5 cm long. This one has less refinement, and is more like what I accomplished. I need more practice. Though this is the size I'd like to aim for next. My current ones are more like 4 cm, end to end.

My links are 20 gauge fine silver (all examples are gold), soldered into loops that were further formed into shape using a ring mandrel, round nose pliers, and my fingers. Each knot is soldered at 4 points. I chose not to solder the center points. I probably should have, but I melted quite a few of these, and decided to call them done with 4 points of contact connected. I would probably use 18 gauge wire next time. 

Loops! 

Rough forming. 

The shape is kind of like a club, or almost a ping-pong paddle. I want to get a more defined neck with a more circular smaller end next time. 

Finished knots

All the failures. I love saving my failures! These will eventually have the solder cut off, and then probably become granules. The rings may be salvaged for smaller rings or filigree.