Sunday, May 30, 2010

Compendium of Chains

I want to be able to describe the things I sell in my Etsy shop. In googling for "types of chains," I've yet to come across a comprehensive site. Part of the problem is that I'm interested in using that brass chain with the ring that pulls open the antique lock on the top of the door in that old store.

Typical scenario: I walk into an antique store and address the salesperson.

Me: Do you have any brass chain?
Proprietor: There are some gold watch chains over in this case.
Me: What about that brass chain that's holding the lid of the case to the box? It has such a great patina...

Thus, the names of hardware-store chain types are necessary, too.

So, here's the start of my Compendium of Chains:


single jack and double jack



















double loop











sash 




plumber's 
box or venitian


figaro





curb








singapore












snake






mesh




byzantine






wheat






cable 





herringbone






mariner





omega





rope





serpentine




foxtail




trombone








fetterlink




















Then there are catches, but maybe for another time...