Mail-makers: What can you tell me about the construction of this late 15th c. European standard? Is that a different ring size for the collar, or just a denser weave (e.g., six-in-one vs. four-in-one for the mantle)? What else do you see here in terms of techniques? I've read a bit about mail making here and elsewhere, so I'm not completely in the dark on the theory. What about practice? Is something like this a challenge more of will or skill?

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Looks like a smaller rings to me - weave appears to be the same four-in-one in both cases, but more detailed image would be preferred to tell for certain. As for techniques - looks like symmetrical sides joined in the middle, square parts on shoulders and triangular sections for the rest of it.

Erik D. Schmid investigated this item and describes its construction in the first issue of the Journal of the Mail Research Society (2003 Link Details from Articles of Mail in the Wallace Collection; pp. 12-14).

Five different types of links are used; the collar is composed of very fine links that they are completely fixed and unable rotate. This is still the 4-in-1 pattern though.

Cheers,

Martijn

One of Erik's closeups of the collar. Get the journal from Erik. The first is just as good as the second.

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A9 collar

look at the photo. it is clear that the links can't rotate. it is actually easier to do this with riveted links than butted links.

Dan, do you happen to know if the rivets are intended to face inwards towards the wearer?

Oh my....so this is master quality work, then....Amazing!