What is Wire Wrapped Jewellery?
History
Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making jewellery by hand. In wire wrapping, jewellery is made using jewellery wire for setting cabochons (stones etc.) or for holding one, two or more beads together to form earrings, bracelets or rings.
Examples of wire and beaded jewellery made using wire wrapping techniques date back many thousands of years BC. The British Museum has samples of jewellery from the Sumerian Dynasty, found in the cemetery of Ur that contain spiraled wire components. This jewellery is dated at approximately 2000 BC.
Other samples of jewellery from Ancient Rome show wire wrapped loops (one of the important techniques in making wire wrapped jewellery). This Roman jewellery is dated to approximately 2000 years ago. In the manufacture of this early jewellery the techniques for soldering did not exist. Later, as the technique for soldering developed, the wire wrapping approach continued through craftsmen and women because it was an economical and quick way to make jewellery components out of wire.
Have these jewellery making techniques changed!
Wire wrapping techniques are not usually used for mass produced jewellery because of simple economics. Machines can cast jewellery components much faster and cheaper. Wire
wrapping craftsmen or women are required to make jewellery by hand and in the current mass marketplace, machines are less expensive and more precise.
Why is it unique?
Twisting the wire, wrapping a wire bundle, crimping or flattening the wrap, and shaping or scrolling it around a stone is still the same technique as used many years ago with all of the creations made by hand with the minimum of tools. In this way the wires are held together, making the shape permanent. It does not involve the use of solder, fire, chemicals, or complicated machinery.
The advantages of this technique are unlimited design possibilities, faster turn around from the design inception to jewellery completion, and the ability to incorporate any shape or finish of any material of your choice with relatively minimum investment cost.
Wire wrapped jewellery is becoming more appealling to the jewellery craftsman and women as the technique is reasonably easy to learn, and beautiful creations can be made from a home studios without the need for installing expensive machinery or outlaying for many tools.
