Chain
1850-1899 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This cast silver chain comes from Sardinia, where it is part of women's traditional costume. Chains like this, with a hook at one end and a corresponding loop at the other, were used to fasten the front of the dress, the cape and even the hood in some places. The lion attached to one end may have been worn with this chain, or may be part of a separate clasp.
Sardinian traditional jewellery is quite different from the traditional jewellery worn elsewhere in Italy. It is mostly made of heavy silver, rather than gold, and often looks like medieval work from northern Europe. This chain was described as Scandinavian when it was given to the V&A in 1937, although it was bought in Rome. Although it is now unique to Sardinia, silver jewellery of this kind was probably worn more widely in southern Italy before the 19th century. There are traces of an earlier tradition of heavy cast silver jewellery in places like Scanno, in Abruzzo.
Sardinian traditional jewellery is quite different from the traditional jewellery worn elsewhere in Italy. It is mostly made of heavy silver, rather than gold, and often looks like medieval work from northern Europe. This chain was described as Scandinavian when it was given to the V&A in 1937, although it was bought in Rome. Although it is now unique to Sardinia, silver jewellery of this kind was probably worn more widely in southern Italy before the 19th century. There are traces of an earlier tradition of heavy cast silver jewellery in places like Scanno, in Abruzzo.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast silver and silver chain |
| Brief description | Cast silver breast chain, with pendant lion, Sardinia (Italy), 1850-1899. |
| Physical description | Breast chain made from three horizontal lengths of figure-of-eight chain, interspersed by three vertical cast openwork spacers. There is a further matching spacer at each end, one with an added hook, and the other with a loop. There is a small flat cast figure of a crowned lion hanging from the loop by means of a decorative link. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Gift of Miss L. F. M. Preston |
| Object history | Described as 'Bought in Rome, 1913' |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This cast silver chain comes from Sardinia, where it is part of women's traditional costume. Chains like this, with a hook at one end and a corresponding loop at the other, were used to fasten the front of the dress, the cape and even the hood in some places. The lion attached to one end may have been worn with this chain, or may be part of a separate clasp. Sardinian traditional jewellery is quite different from the traditional jewellery worn elsewhere in Italy. It is mostly made of heavy silver, rather than gold, and often looks like medieval work from northern Europe. This chain was described as Scandinavian when it was given to the V&A in 1937, although it was bought in Rome. Although it is now unique to Sardinia, silver jewellery of this kind was probably worn more widely in southern Italy before the 19th century. There are traces of an earlier tradition of heavy cast silver jewellery in places like Scanno, in Abruzzo. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.300-1922 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 20, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
