Hollow Link English Antique Silver chain, totally handcrafted, a type of chain produced only, really, in the 1880s, and for a particular purpose, namely that shown here in the above images, as a chain to carry a featured locket, a chain that was light in weight, not too fancy but of a reasonable size, to complement the locket.
Most chains of the period handmade for the express purpose of carrying a locket consisted of links of flattish Silver platelets, often engraved. Chains such as the above were made for those desiring a more plain look, for often the engraved platelet link types, given the name “Collar” in the Antique trade, were really quite fancy and ornate.
The term “Hollow Link” in chain usually refers to fully round links that are hollow, not solid, but in the case of the above Hollow Link chain it refers to its lightness in weight despite its size, its relative bulk. The links themselves are not at all particularly thick but its construction technique gives it considerable strength, for each link is two links soldered together, then articulated onto the next such two-link link. Extremely labour-intensive.
(Note: somewhere along the line of the century and a half since this chain was handcrafted at a jewellery bench, in Birmingham probably, it has suffered a break and been re-soldered.)