Historically, the use of mail as battlefield armor was confined to the domain of male soldiers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Japan where it provided an effective means of defense against the impact of weaponry. Today, mail is no longer used in combat but it continues to enjoy popularity for practical purposes in a variety of industrial settings including fishing, woodcarving, meat packing and scuba diving.
Chain mail has extended its usefulness from the theater of war to the artist’s palette with applications in sculpture, jewelry, clothing, headdresses, accessories and other decorative mediums. The possibilities for this unique art form are endless.
The photos below show what is possible for the edging on purses, pouches, apparel and the like. The first time I witnessed a similar finish on a comparable item, I was awe-struck at its ornate construction, its utilitarian application. As a rule, the two are mutually exclusive!
I wanted to create an equivalent article, so here is my T Is For Texas Purse. It was a lot of fun to make.
