For the month of November, chain maille jewelry designer Leslie Munger is the Kailua Village Artists featured artist.
Chain maille is an ancient art form of linking tiny metal “jump rings” together to form a fabric mesh. Many centuries ago, medieval blacksmiths discovered that using tiny metal rings when meshed together were stab resistant and created ultra light armor protection. The battlefield invention known as chain maille protected knights from swords, daggers and arrows. Thousands of years ago the Japanese created their own version of chain maille called kusari gusoku for their samurai warriors. Today Chain Maille is still used for protective gear, such as butchers’ gloves and shark diving suits just to name a few.
Over the years the desire for exclusive jewelry has also exploded. The same mesh construction that shielded the ancient warriors is now in demand for necklaces, bracelets and anklets. Chain maille is distinctive because of the hand crafted process and does not lend itself to mass production. Each piece takes many hours to create and can be considered one of a kind. Today, chain maille jewelry has become popular because of its unique beauty.
Meet Munger and learn more about this ancient art form while she is working at the gallery on Sunday and Wednesday.
The Kailua Village Artists Gallery is located at the Kona Marketplace off Alii Drive in Kailua Village. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
Info: 329-6653.