The Value of Wire Wrapped Jewelry and is it considered a real art form.

 

I’m often asked by people who silversmith/metalsmith “C’mon now, is wire wrapped jewelry “real “jewelry. You know you don’t use any metal smith techniques in it.” I always answer with an unequivocal “Yes”. Even though metal smith techniques may not be incorporated into wire wrapped jewelry, it does not diminish its value as an art form nor the effort and time it take to make it. It can take anywhere from a couple of hours to dozens of hours in order to complete one piece depending on the weave and complexity of the design.  Plus there is a certain charm and uniqueness to wire wrapped jewelry that just can’t be readily transferred into any other jewelry making medium. I personally make jewelry that is either all 100 percent wire wrapped/weaved or a combination of wire weaving and metal smithing. So to all the Nay Sayers out there who think their way is the only way, I say wire weaving is just one of many art forms in jewelry making and is no less or more valuable than any other. So for those of you who are using wire wrapping/weaving to make jewelry, please don’t under value your skill and time as you master this intricate art form.

 For those of you thinking about getting into the craft, If you want to make jewelry and don’t know where to start then wire wrapping/weaving may be for you as it is a fairly inexpensive inroad to making jewelry that you can wear and sell with a minimal starting investment in a few basic hand tools and some wire. While learning your craft you can always add to your collection of tools as you progress, just as I did. It’s one of those mediums you can definitely work your way up through as you add hammering, soldering, torch work, enameling, etc. to your repertoire of skills.

And to all those in doubt, here is a little background on wire wrapped/ weaved jewelry. Examples of wire and beaded jewelry made using wire wrapping techniques date back thousands of years. Museums across the world have samples of jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewelry is dated at approximately 2000 BC. Other samples of jewelry from Ancient Rome show wire wrapping. This Roman jewelry is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of this early jewelry the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping approach continued because it was an economical and quick way to make jewelry components out of wire.

The true art of wire-wrapping has been around since the time of the Phoenician Empire, since about 1000 B.C. where Gold or Silver was hammered into thin sheets, cut into narrow strips and the edges filed smooth, making the wire. The wire was then woven into a design and usually set onto a breast plate armor.

The earliest reference to drawn wire versus cut wire is in the 8th century in France and the first commercial wire operation was in 1270 AD in France. During the Medieval period, Knights brought wire back to England to make chain mail for their armor. Gold and silver wire were drawn in France and transported back to England. The earliest mention of wire production in England was 1465. During this time, wire-wrapping was limited to fastening crucifixes and other religious symbols to lanyards and chains.

In the 1800’s the Bohemian culture made wonderful necklaces and bracelets using wire to connect beads and stones. These jewelry items were popular with European aristocracy for over 50 years.

Today, wire wrapping has become popular because of the uniqueness and the individuality of each piece - no two are ever exactly alike! Now you have a little knowledge in defense of your craft the next time someone ask “ C’mon is that wire work “real” jewelry”.

New Gallery of Past Works

We have finally gotten a new Gallery integrated into the blog showing my past works. It has been a long time coming as I know some of you do not have accounts on Pinterest, so it makes it difficult to see what I have been doing lately. We will be posting photos to the gallery as pieces become available. Thanks for everyone's support over the last year as it has been an exciting time for me and my wife as we travel down the path of discovery into unchartered jewelry designs.

Wire types for Wire Wrap Jewelry

Wire types for Wire Wrap Jewelry

There are many types of wire from Stainless Steel, Copper and Aluminum to Gold Filled and Solid 

Silver wire.  The most popular is Aluminum craft wire which is available in a variety of colors

usually coated with clear vinyl and comes in different diameters. It is made for durability and flexibility and is used for beading or wire work. It will usually not fade or tarnish and is great for the beginning wire wrap artist due to its wide availability and inexpensive cost.  There is also solid or thick single strand stainless steel spring wire used for a lot of popular bracelet and necklace designs. On occasion I use gold filled and solid fine silver wire for some of my work.  But my favorite, which happens to be the most popular for a variety of reasons, is Copper wire. Sterling and fine silver are the second most popular wires used for making jewelry.

 Wire for Wire Wrap Jewelry is available in many shapes like oval, triangle, square, and half round and round profiles.  Each profile has certain uses for the type or style of wire wrapping involved with the design.   Wire also comes in different thicknesses or gauges and hardness levels, also known as malleability.  For wire wrapping, Wire gauges range from 6 gauge to 30 gauge with 30 being the thinnest, which is about the thickness of human hair. Hardness levels range from Dead Soft (DS) to Half Hard (HH) to Hard.  Dead Soft and Half Hard are used more often because it’s easiest to work with.  Dead-Soft wire does not hold its shape well when used for wide looping without first hardening it, but works great for elaborate designs right off of the spool.

Fine, Sterling Silver and Copper wire can become tarnished over time due to oxidation. You can keep the wires luster by storing it in plastic zip lock bags before use.  This is a nice way to keep your wire shiny or to preserve the luster for a longer period of time.  Air and oil on the skin of your hands are the biggest culprits of oxidation causing that brown dull luster on the wire. Have you ever looked at an old penny versus a new one?  As people handle the penny, the oil from their hands along with exposure to the air cause the penny to tarnish over time. The same is true of copper and silver jewelry. There are ways to prevent this which I will share in another post.

I use dead soft copper and dead soft fine Silver round wire for 99.00% of my work with the majority falling between 18 and 28 gauge wires.  I simply prefer round wire, and it happens to be the easiest to obtain.  Half-Hard and Hard wire are difficult to work because it is hard to bend and requires a strong hand and tools.  The Half-Hard and Hard wire nicks or damages easily as well because you must firmly clamp down on it to get the wire to bend correctly.  However, I still prefer dead soft wire because once it’s bent, it’s done, and will usually not get damaged through normal wear and tear.  It is both durable and lasting. These pieces should be around for generations and even become heirlooms.

The wire I use for pendants spans a wide range and is dependent on the size and shape of stone or other material that I am wrapping.  But I mostly use 18 and 20 gauge wire as the base and 24-28 gauge for the weaving on the pendants. Although I plan my designs, they very rarely come out the way they are drawn as I usually let the stone or focal point dictate the style and flow of the design as I'm weaving.

I'll cover how to protect your wire and jewelry in my next post.

An Ode to Wire Wrapping

So I was thinking poetically recently about what it means to be a wire wrapper and how I get lost in the wonder of the stones, beads and wire. How we as people can create such beautiful and awe inspiring jewelry from what nature and the almighty has provided, which can take us away to far away lands, times or places of fantasy and mirth. So, I came up with a little poetry to express my thoughts.

An Ode to Wire Wrapping

Wire is my only true passion.

Wearing beads and metal with exuberant pride,

it certainly makes me incredibly happy inside,

letting stones and gems become my fashion.

Creations from my heart to my hand,

come forth dreams of green Malachite,

and hidden treasures in my mind of, oh, so sultry Labradorite,

wrap and link, mysterious wire demands.

That handcrafted jewelry unfolds,

those strange weavings through strife,

to adorn that beautiful neck and lobes,

and with great effort comes to life.

For those who so much do agree,

that wire wrapped jewelry holds true,

our wonder of things unknown but new,

like the pattern of a leaf on a newly budded tree.

So with much shouting and wailing,

I do boldly profess my love,

for those shiny sparkly things we find most of,

wire wrapped jewelry with it's ever clever unveiling.

All righty then, that's food for thought, Hey!..that reminds me, it's dinner time and I'm starting to get hungry.Onward to the kitchen and sandwich. AWAY!!!!

Adams Handcrafted Jewelry

Adams Handcrafted Jewelry specializes in wire-wrapped jewelry with an emphasis on movement, flow and one-of-a-kind creative pieces. Jewelry is handmade using stone, semi-precious gemstone or glass bead inclusions and accents picked with care, exhibiting a deep appreciation for artisan cabochons, lamp work glass and the rich depths of copper, brass or sterling/fine silver wire. 

Hi...my name is Daryl Adams and I am an artisan at heart. My love of art started at a very young age, so long ago in fact that I don't remember exactly when...but needless to say it all started with comic book drawing when I was young and as the years have passed it has grown and transformed into something altogether different, but at the same time it has the same familiarity. As the years have passed, I have transcended comic book art to include all types of art from drawing to painting, to airbrushing, to photography, to sculpting, to jewelry making, to lapidary work, to silver smithing, to glass work, to Precious Metal Clay to....well, you get the picture. I just love anything that has to do with art. I'm not sure what took me down the path of wire wrapping, but after spying some semi-precious gem wire wrapped jewelry made by some folks in England that had a Gothic appearance, I was hooked. 

Ever since that day a few weeks ago, I have scoured the internet for as much information as possible on the ins and outs of wire wrapping. My wife even convinced me to take a class with the world renown wire wrap jewelry artist, Kaska Firor, which I did on November 1, 2014 at a local bead supply store in Arlington Texas called Wild Beads. The class taught me a lot about the bad habits I had already developed, which Kaska helped me to correct and also what I was doing right. Kaska is a great instructor and knows how to teach a class. We created two different wire wrapped rings, one out of copper and the other out of Fine Silver which is 99.999% pure along with some Swarovski pearls as focal points on each ring. If you are into wire wrapping and Kaska comes to your area, I highly suggest you take a class with her, you won't be disappointed. Here is what I was able to create with her guidance. 

 The purpose of this blog is to help promote the art of wire wrapped jewelry and also to allow my followers a closer look into how I create my artisan jewelry. So stay tuned for more....until next time.