Bradney Chain's 'oddments' department kept busy

A 120-year-old West Midlands marine chain and engineering company has been celebrating a successful contemporary art exhibition and the unusual order of a German installation artist.

Bradney Chain will be marking their 120 year anniversary next year and although they have been involved in many projects over that time they recently moved into a new area, Contemporary Art.

Frankfurt based artist Mike Bouchet (pictured) presented a large sculpture at the recent Frieze Art Show at Regents Park London.

The artwork titled ‘Black Tie’ is a 4,500m length of chain with an anchor.

The chain is intended to moor a floating suburban home in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The 9.5mm dia calibrated galvanised chain with a 30kg Lewmar anchor weighed over 9 tonnes.

Chris Wiggins. MD at Bradney Chain, was first surprised at such a request but happy to work with Mike and his team in providing and installing the chain.

The floor of the gallery had to be strengthened to take nine tonnes of chain.

The artwork was well received at Freize Art Show with over 60000 people attending the four-day event in Regents Park.

Previous off the wall projects have been to supply the British Bollard Company with bespoke chains for the Palace of Westminster and some of the older workers at Bradney can recall supplying special chandelier assemblies for stately homes.

Bradney Chain still specialise in bespoke assemblies in their oddwork department.