CHAIN MAIL SHIRT
1976Circular metal rings, linked together to form a protective garment worn over the top half of the body with a short skirt. It forms a "T" shape, with a round neck and short sleeves. The front has a 23cmt split up the centre from the hem, this is the location of the brass rings which were added later
The construction of the mail shirt was started in 1976 by Stephen, who started making the rings from wire coat hangers wrapped around a piece of wooden dowel. The coat hanger wire rings are around the throat area. When the family ran out of hangers, he combed the Roleystone tip, eventually finishing with a roll of fencing wire of similar gauge found in his dads shed. A few more links were added in the 1980's as he outgrew the shirt. This is when the brass rings forming the zig zag pattern appeared. The brass wire was welding rods salvaged from a Japanese fishing vessel that ran aground off Rottnest about 1981.The shirt was worn for the performance of Macbeth at the Elizabethan Village in 1978 by children from Kelmscott Senior High School. The event included Morris Dancers and folk music.
Stephen also wore the chain mail shirt to fancy dress parties and demonstrated it at his Medieval History 110 unit at the University of Western Australia in 1981.
Stephen made the shirt, and a sword, as well as a full breast plate in the 1970s and early 80s because he was fascinated with armour and medieval history.
Details
Details
MEDIUM
This chain mail shirt was made by Stephen O'Brien who grew up in Kelmscott and had a keen interest in 'Medieval' arms and armour. Over a couple of years, starting in 1976 Stephen constructed the mail shirt using initially coat hanger wire then fencing wire he found in his fathers shed. When completed the mail shirt was worn in 1978 at a fair held at the Elizabethan Village, where students from Kelmscott High School performed scenes from the Shakespeare play, Macbeth.
This mail shirt represents the interests and hobby of a teenage boy in Kelmscott
City of Armadale - History House
City of Armadale - History House
Other items from City of Armadale - History House
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BROWN CASE - CWA
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C.W.A. SHIELD
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MASCOT HEAD - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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HOOD GREEN - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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MASCOT TORSO - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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SHIRT LONG SLEEVE - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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SWIMMING RASHIE RED - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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FROG GLOVES - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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GREEN PANTS - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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FROG FEET - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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YELLOW SHORTS - FERGUS THE FROG COSTUME
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MASCOT HEAD - LILY THE BUTTERFLY COSTUME
