Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautifully crafted chain made of links of silver in the spiga (wheat) chain style. Three thin bars of a silver spiral are wrapped around one area, possibly forming an ancient repair. In Rome, silver was reserved for the wealthy, and this would have belonged to an elite citizen. Artisans created several types of woven chains, using thin wire to demonstrate their skill in working with the metal. Size: 19" L (if spread out) x 0.25" W (48.3 cm x 0.6 cm)

Chains were often used as parts of other pieces of jewelry, such as for securing brooches or headdresses. For example, in a hoard of silver jewelry and coins found in Chorley, Lancashire, in northwestern England, excavators found a pair of silver harp fibulae with a beautifully made foxtail chain (a slightly tighter weave than this one) between them that archaeologists speculate could have been looped to hang in a double swag between the two fibulae when worn.

See the Chorley, UK chain displayed as archaeologists think it would have been worn: http://www.chorleyhistorysociety.co.uk/nwsvws0807.htm

Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#121644

Chain is fragile and has been repaired using modern wire in two places; four other links are bent.