Updated December 2009 ~ I have been considering this project and these pages over the past year. My work and research, in my opinion, is now outdated. Frankly, I do not have the passion to seek funding to research, travel, and publish my ideas as I am not an academic researcher. I am a librarian, artist and fine craftsman.
In artistic and crafting circles, chain knitting has exploded over the past 10 years. I am pleased to have helped the spreading of knowledge, particularly among historical recreationists. My personal attachment to the craft form has waned.
I've come realize that in my mind, my work in this area is complete. I've proven, to my satisfaction, that there is a reasonable amount of extant pieces; the technique that gained my attention was used in a number of areas; the work of Tomenterä has been seen by more people. I am happy.
This URL is for sale. Please contact me if you are interested.
I have registered a secondary domain name apolloniavoss.com. This URL may morph into my artistic presence with items available for commission or sale. I am still considering this idea.
These pages are intended to help you learn about jewelry, jewelers and goldsmiths, and their related arts in the Renaissance, Middle Ages, Byzantine era and ancient times.
Through my own research, I have established a reasonable collection of books and articles that assist me. I am hoping that they also serve as a resource for your research or as an aid in creating your own treasures.
I am particularly interested in historical chains and chain making. To foster discussion, I have started an email group for people interested in discussing or making utilitarian chains or objects of jewelry. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/historical_chain_makers/ for more information. Please note that I have turned administration of this group over to Helene Jacobs.
You may find my mini index to Jewellery Studies, the publication of the Society of Jewellery Historians useful in aiding your own research. Please note: The Society now has its own website complete with a table of contents listing and a form to order back issues of its journal. Wonderful! Please consider my page obsolete. <hooray!> Dec 2009
If you are interested in joining a historical jewelry society, you may wish to explore The American Society of Jewelry Historians and/or The Society of Jewellery Historians in London.
~L Rice
Librarian, independent scholar, and goldsmith
jewelryhistorian AT jewelryhistorian DOT com