Welcome to Ogre's Den
Handcrafted chain maille jewelry, clothing, accessories and more....
Please pardon our dust as we move in.
Ogre has been weaving chain maille for over 20 years. Each piece is skillfully crafted, joining one ring at a time. The melding of 2000 year old techniques and a modern flair enables Ogre to create spectacular timeless originals.
History of Chain Maille
(excerpt from Medieval Life and Times)
It is believed that Chain Mail was invented by the Celts. Chain Mail history dates back to antiquity and was adopted by the Romans after they realized its potential after fighting the Celts. A variety of materials were used to make Chain Mail including brass and iron. However, the most popular material was steel. In the 14th century, plate armor began to replace the Medieval Chain Mail worn by knights. However the Medieval Chain Mail was not completely discarded by the Knights who continued to wear a shirt of Chain Mail beneath plate armor to protect the joints and the groin. Plate armor was extremely expensive and the average soldier during the times still used Chain Mail as their most effective form of protection. The history of Chain Mail declined with the invention of the musket in 1520 and the subsequent use of gunpowder in various weapons.