No. 009 - Rain Chain
Handmade, American, 1950’s
58 inches x 7 inches diameter (147 x 18 cm)
The origin of this handmade, wire rain chain is speculated, but unconfirmed by the respected French dealer who found it at an estate sale in down state New York more than 15 years ago (2009). What is confirmed is that it’s patina suggest decades of long use.
Originating in Japan, rain chains act as an alternative to a traditional downspout to transport rainwater from the guttering into a drain or storage container. They have also been used in the West, as in Nordic vernacular architecture which often used a simple stick as a rainwater guide; and in the Modernist era, to juxtapose metal chains with a concrete or stone facade. They are often seen in cup-shape, link, and loop style, as well as decorative, rather than functional.
