Jewellery chain

Frontal view of a grey female bust with four gold bands of many fine links, two draped over the shoulders and two plunging from the breast bone sweeping below the breasts and going behind the back. The four converge between the breasts, where each band ends in a head which connects to a centrepiece, a purple gem surrounded by eight smaller sockets, four empty and four with red stones
Gold Body chain for a slight woman or a girl. Frontal view with an Amethyst and four garnets, four other gems are missing (4th or 5th century Romano British, part of the Hoxne hoard)[1]
Byzantine body chain found as part of the Asyut Treasure, Egypt c. 600 AD (British Museum)[2]

Fine metal chains are used in jewellery to encircle parts of the body, namely the neck, wrists and ankles, and they also serve as points to hang decorative charms and pendants. Unlike industrial or chains for other purposes, jewellery chains or body chains are designed for aesthetic purposes.

Material

Jewellery chains are typically made from precious metals, mainly gold and silver. Platinum, palladium and steel may also be used. These metals are used because they are not very reactive, keep both their intricate shape and their strength, and require only minimal maintenance to keep their shine. Small lever mechanisms called findings serve as fastenings to enable the chain to be undone and redone.

Styles

References

  1. British Museum Collection
  2. British Museum Collection
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