Wonderfully Folky 19th C. Hand-formed Twisted Amber Glass Chain name stamped tool which probably included several animals

which probably included several animals linked together

but I've also learned these were sometimes used to time workers' breaks

and these are about the most beautiful I've seen

"Austin fishing"

Wonderfully Folky 19th C. Hand-formed Twisted Amber Glass Chain name stamped tool which probably included several animalsI purchased this from a dealer in New Hampshire I buy from frequently, always interesting things, including lots of folk art. He described this twisted glass chain as 19th century, and I know he knows his glass, so while I don't really, I trust that is true. In any event, I fell in love with it for its folkiness, reminding me very much of a whimsy, and perhaps that's just what it is, a sort of end of day playing around, or perhaps a practice exercise.