Adored by kings and queens, a symbol of ancient civilisations and the countercultures of the young, a constant inspiration for artists, stylists and designers, the chain is one of the most-loved and the most-worn jewellery items in the history of costume.

With an authoritative critical essay and large selection of photographs, this book retraces the symbolic and aesthetic evolution of the chain from early history to modern day, as well as its intersections with art, fashion, design, manufacture and new technologies. A fascinating and skilfully illustrated journey that shows how extraordinary jewellery, able to link the past to the future in the name of creativity, beauty and innovation, can be generated from such a simple functional element.

Text in English and Italian.