Background and Documentation

The trichinopoly chainworking technique is a made by circular knitting with continuous wire. James Graham-Campbell, in The Viking_Age Gold and Silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100), pulls together a brief listing of extant pieces created in this style.  The earliest are known in Britain from the 9th century as part of the Pictish hoard from Croy, Inverness.   Another example comes from the Trewhiddle hoard, Cornwall deposited c.868.  The technique was also used in Ireland during the eighth century as trim around the rim of the paten coming from the  hoard found on the monastic site of Derrynaflan, Co Tipperary.  Other finds from this period are noted as coming from hoards in Skaill, Orkney, and Inch Kenneth, Argyll.

Another necklace dated between AD 600 - 1100 (with a Thor's Hammer pendant) has been excavated at the Fröjel Harbor (one of the richest Viking trading centers in the Viking world) excavation in Gotland, Sweden.  The Fröjel Gotlandica Viking Re-Enactment Society offers a website of good quality picture so artifacts. You can see the necklace at http://www.frojel.com/Images/Galleries/Artifacts/Images/womensjewellery2.jpg.

A 10th and 11th century example of Viking knitted chain (one with an axe-head pendant) is part of the Viking: The North Atlantic Saga traveling exhibition.  Photographs of a necklace and a chain fragment are shown in the exhibit catalog by Fitzhugh & Ward. Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga.   ISBN: 1-56098-995-5.  Further research into this piece has lead me to discover that Leena Tomanterä (National Musuem of Finland) calls the style the "braiding technique" in "Traces of The Central Asian Culture in the North," Sumalais-urgilaisen Seuran Toimituksia Mémoires De La Société Finno-Ougrienne. 194. Helsinki 1986.  And in an Offprint from ISKOS 4 1984 entitled, "Braid, Weave, and Foxtail." Vammala. Vammalan Kirjapaino Oy 1985.

Based on my inspection of photographs of extant pieces utilizing both techniques, descriptions of the methods of construction of each, close inspection of extant pieces in the Smithsonian's current traveling Viking exhibit and correspondence with a museum curator and technique expert, I conclude that the techniques are one and the same.

The Book To Own

Great Wire Jewelry: Projects and Technique by Irene From Peterson.  [Originally published as Smykker fra Vikingetid og Nutid. ] Lark Books; Ashville, NC. 1998. ISBN: 1-5990-093-3

Which Wire To Use

Copper, fine silver (.999-not sterling .925), and gold wire work best for this technique.  The wire needs to be flexible enough to withstand quite a bit of "work hardening."  If you use a different metal wire, you may have great difficult getting the wire to make those tight turns you need it to.  Use 26 gauge wire.  It produces nice, regular results even as a beginner.  You can progress to 28 gauge later if you like.  Remember, the higher the gauge number, the smaller the diameter of the wire, the thinner the wire is.  You'll also need 20 gauge wire to make your starting anchor bundle.