A Massachusetts-based jewelry designer and author, Karen Karon designs and creates chain maille jewelry. Using simple hand tools, she weaves one ring at a time to craft each piece. She works in a variety of metals, as each lends itself to a particular purpose: sterling silver and gold-filled metals for weight and value, anodized aluminum for color and lightness, and titanium for lightness and strength. Karon is intrigued by the way that a substance as solid as metal can become a fluid, flexible, fabric-like sheet that drapes and conforms to the body. She is also drawn to the connection between modern maille jewelry and ancient battle armor: just as a knight would don his maille armor to prepare for battle, wearing a piece of contemporary maille jewelry can symbolically prepare the wearer for life’s daily challenges.
