Antique Rolled Gold Muff Chain with Bulldog Clip

• Muff Chain - A muff chain is a type of long chain, usually made of a precious metal such as gold or silver, that was worn in the 18th and 19th centuries as a practical accessory to hold a muff, which was a cylinder-shaped cover for the hands that was popular during this time. The chain was worn around the neck with the muff attached to one end, and the other end would be passed through a slit in the side of a coat or jacket, so that the muff could be held close to the body for warmth. Muff chains were often highly decorative and were sometimes embellished with gems or enamel work. While they are no longer commonly used for their original purpose, muff chains can be worn as a vintage accessory or as a decorative element in modern fashion.
• Rolled Gold - A type of gold plating devloped in the early 19th century, similar to Sheffield plating of silver, where the the gold is fused under pressure and heat to a base metal, usually brass, and then rolled into sheets of the required thickness.
  
  The thickness of the gold plate can vary. In Britain the thickness of the gold is measured in microns. A micron is one-thousandth of a millimetre and 20 microns of gold is considered good quality. In the USA a differnt method is used that takes account of the total weight of the object.
  
  Also, the purity of the gold, measured in carats can vary, with 24 carat being the purest. The gold in most rolled gold objects will be between 9 and 14 carats.
  
  There are other chemical and electroplating methods of applying gold plate to a base metal, but rolled gold is considered a superior plate to a "gold plated" object.
  
  Depending on the country and date of manufacture, the object may be stamped "Rolled Gold" or similar, but if there is any doubt as to whether an object is solid gold, or some type of gold plating, it is preferable to have it tested by a jeweller.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• muff chains 149
• neck chains, link style - neck chains, gold, belcher links 105