A GERMAN SILVER-GILT CHAIN, PROBABLY LATER USED AS A MARRIAGE BELT, MAKER'S MARK EH CONJOINED, PROBABLY FOR EUSTACHIUS HOHMAN OF NUREMBERG, CIRCA 1600

The orientation of the heads on this chain indicates that it was originally worn vertically. However, its presence in the Sassoon Judaica collection for over a century suggests that it was acquired as a sivlonot, or marriage belt - a purpose for which its male and female profile busts would have been well suited. Sivlonot were a German Jewish tradition dating from the 16th century, when silver or gold chains were sent as a gift by the bridegroom to his future bride. They were worn under the bridal canopy and throughout the following week, then often brought out again for holidays and ceremonial occasions.