New in the Gallery - Cufflinks and Stickpins

Recent additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery include striking purple enamel and pearl cufflinks by Carrington & Co. and elegant moss agate links by Larter & Sons.

Carrington Purple  Striking purple enamel above a finely engraved pattern of radiating scalloped circles centered with a small luminous pearl.  A beautiful example of the guilloche enamel cufflinks of the early 1900s. Created in 14kt gold, circa 1925.   Cost:  Sold

Moss Agate   Elegant moss agate cabochons set in polished gold bezels.  The moss agates swirl with beautiful green strands reminiscent of seaweed floating in filtered sunlight beneath the ocean's surface. Crafted in 10kt gold, circa 1950.   Cost:  Sold

In the Antique Stickpin Gallery there is Atlas supporting the weight of the world, a fiery Art Nouveau chimera by Carter, Howe and a fierce lion clutching a diamond.

Atlas and the Pillars  Atlas carries the weight of the world on his shoulders framed by two classically-inspired pillars and a soaring arch.  This finely modeled, richly detailed stickpin is a miniature work of sculpture crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1920.   Cost:  $485

Fiery Dragon  A fierce dragon with a fiery red eye and a curling tail of flame-like acanthus leaves perches atop a finely sculpted Art Nouveau stickpin. Created by Carter, Howe in 14kt gold, circa 1900.   Cost:  $425

Fierce Lion  A lion fiercely grasps a diamond in his snarling maw while staring menacingly with fiery red eyes.  The lion is beautifully sculpted with a finely detailed mane and an intensely watchful gaze.  Crafted in 14kt gold,  circa 1920.   Cost:  $475

These and other fine jewels from the past can be found in
the Antique and Estate Jewelry Galleries

New in the Gallery - Cufflinks and Tuxedo Sets

Recent additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery include mesmerizing moss agate cufflinks from the venerable Richardson workshop, striking Art Deco cufflinks created by Jacob Hookaylo and elegant laurel wreath cufflinks from the early 1900s.

Moss Agates  Mesmerizing moss agates swirl with green inclusions reminiscent of seaweed floating in filtered sunlight along the bottom of the sea.   Elegant cufflinks created by Richardson Co. in 14kt gold,  circa 1920.    Cost:  Sold

Garlands and Swags  Elegant Art Deco cufflinks with golden garlands and swags surrounded by bold white gold borders decorated with geometric and palmette motifs.  Created by Jacob Hookaylo in 14kt white and yellow gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  $875

Laurels to the Victor!  Since ancient times laurel wreathes have been a symbol of achievement and victory.  These elegant gold cufflinks tastefully announce that the wearer is a winner!  Crafted in 10kt gold,  circa 1900.    Cost:  Sold

In the Antique Dress Set Gallery recent additions include a full dress set creature by Sansbury & Nellis with vibrant citrines set in gold.

Citrine and Gold  A beautifully crafted and designed dress set with citrine cabochons set in yellow gold.  The honey-amber color of the citrine plays beautifully against the warm tones of the gold settings. Crafted in 14kt gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  $1,875

These and other fine jewels from the past can be found in
the Antique and Estate Jewelry Galleries

New in the Gallery - Cufflinks,Tuxedo Sets and Brooches

Recent additions to the  Antique Cufflink Gallery  include an elegant moss agate and diamond dress set, a pair of Carrington golden pinstripes, a Carter mother-of-pearl and platinum dress set, radiant cufflinks reminiscent of a golden fan of peacock feathers and frosty Art Deco pinstripes.

Carrington Moss Agate  Mesmerizing moss agates swirl with a tangle of green inclusions that bring to mind seaweed floating in filtered sunlight above the ocean floor.  Diamonds set in platinum add an elegant sparkle to this dress set.  Crafted in platinum and 14kt gold, circa 1920. Cost:  Sold

Carrington Pinstripes  Elegantly engraved pinstripes alternating with brightly polished bands of gold.  The best of understated elegance and fine craftsmanship.  Crafted in 14kt gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  $885

Carter Whites  An elegant Art Deco dress set with cross reeded platinum borders surrounding creamy white mother-of-pearl centers.  Created by Carter, Gough & Co. in 14kt gold and platinum,  circa 1925.    Cost:  Sold

Peacock Radiance  Elegantly engraved cufflinks with a design suggestive of a radiant fan of golden peacock feathers.  A pattern favored by fine watch makers that is stunning on a pair of fine cufflinks.  Crafted in 14kt gold,  circa 1940.    Cost:  Sold

Frosty Pinstripes Elegant Art Deco cufflinks with frosty pinstripes surrounded by radiating wave and zigzag borders.  Crafted in 14kt white and yellow gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  Sold

In the  Antique Brooch Gallery  recent additions include a striking Hans Brassler Egyptian Revival brooch and a sweet bar pin set with sapphires.

Lilies and Lotus  Lotus blossoms and lilies frame a fiery red garnet in this diminutive Egyptian revival brooch.  Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1910.
Cost:  $465

Sapphire Elegance  An elegant Art Deco bar pin with two bright sapphires and delicate filigree work.  Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1925.
Cost:  Sold

These and other fine jewels from the past can be found in
the Antique Jewelry Galleries

Recent Additions - Cufflinks

Recent additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery include mesmerizing Carrington moss agates, elegant golden pinstripes, radiant two-tone Art Deco cufflinks, frosty platinum-on-gold octagons and a second pair of elegant pinstripes.

Carrington Moss Agate  Mesmerizing moss agates with a swirl of green inclusions reminiscent of seaweed floating above the ocean floor.  Created by Carrington and Co. in 14kt gold,  circa 1910.    Cost:  Sold

Deco Pinstripes II  Elegant Art Deco cufflinks with engraved pinstripes alternating with bright bands of gold.  The simple elegance of the uncluttered linear designs of the Art Deco period crafted in 10kt gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  $475

Art Deco Radiance  Jazzy Art Deco cufflinks with beautifully engraved white gold centers surrounded by yellow gold borders embellished with an elegant scroll design.  Created by United Jewelers in 14kt gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  $785

Elegantly Engraved  Beautifully engraved platinum top cufflinks decorated with scroll and floral designs.  The octagonal shape is highlighted with elegant Art Deco borders.  Crafted in platinum and 14kt gold,  circa 1920.    Cost:  $675

Elegant Pinstripes II  Art Deco cufflinks with rippling pinstripe centers and jazzy cross-hatched borders.  An elegant example of the intricate, geometric designs of the 1920s.  Crafted in 14kt gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  $785

These and other fine cufflinks from the past can be found in
the Antique Cufflink Gallery

Summer Greetings!

Victorian moss agate cuff button, circa 1900.

Vacation season is here! While acquiring new cufflinks for the gallery and following up with research into the history of cufflinks, I have found several days to enjoy the warmer water at the beach and head north to hike the mountains of New Hampshire. I hope everyone is enjoying an equally pleasant summer.

Soon I will be posting several recent additions to the gallery and at the end of the month unravel the mystery of the Winged Bridge maker.

Until then I leave you with the above late Victorian cuff button set with one of my favorite gemstones - moss agate. The swirling green inclusions of this elegant variety of quartz are inescapably reminiscent of the seaweed beds I see while swimming at the beach.

Recent Additions - Cufflinks and Stickpins

Recent additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery include striking Victorian moss agate bean backs, a pair of Krementz roaring lions, Art Deco green and gold cufflinks from Larter & Sons and a mysterious Art Nouveau warrior princess from Link & Angell.

Moss Agate  Victorian moss agate cufflinks featuring a swirling tangle of green inclusions that brings to mind seaweed floating in filtered sunlight along the ocean floor.  Crafted in 10kt gold,  circa 1900.
Cost:  $765

Roaring Lions  A roaring lion announces his authority among the windblown grasses of the savanna.  The lion is beautifully sculpted with a flowing golden mane and fierce, piercing eyes.  Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1900. Cost:  Sold

Green and Gold   An elegant pair of gold cufflinks with green enamel accents.  The beautifully engraved centers teem with jazzy, undulating lines that create a rippling, wave-like pattern.  Crafted in 14kt gold,  circa 1920. Cost:  $785

Warrior-Princess  Art Nouveau jewelers often celebrated heroines from myth and history.  These cufflinks feature a warrior-princess with a resolute stare and flowing golden tresses.  Crafted in sterling and silver-gilt, circa 1900. Cost:  Sold

In the Antique Stickpin Gallery recent additions include a striking Egyptian Revival stickpin set with a bright sapphire from the Art Deco period.

Deco Egypt  Alternating papyrus stalks and palmettes surround a brightly glowing sapphire.  A striking example of the Egyptian theme jewels of the Art Deco era.  Crafted in 14kt gold,  circa 1920.    Cost:  $465

These and other fine jewels can be found in
the Antique and Estate Jewelry Galleries

A Parade of Colorful Cufflinks

Summer is here! White clouds are floating across the blue sky, the garden is abloom with flowers, and brightly colored towels and umbrellas decorate the beach. What better way to celebrate the beginning of summer than with a parade of colorful cufflinks. And, since Independence Day is just around the corner, we will start the parade with some red, white and blue fireworks.

William Huger carnelian cufflinks.

Arresting, sultry red carnelians set in bright yellow gold. The striking contrast of the red carnelian and yellow gold settings reflects the bold colors and contrasts favored during the Art Deco era. Created by Wm. Huger & Co. in 14kt gold, circa 1925.

Sansbury & Nellis white chalcedony cufflinks.

Translucent, foggy white chalcedony (a fine grained variety of quartz) set in rose gold. The luminous chalcedonies brings to mind early morning fog burning off with the first rays of the sun. A nice example of the striking white jewels of the late Art Deco period. Crafted in 14kt rose gold, circa 1930.

George Street lapis lazuli cufflinks.

Regal blue lapis lazuli wedded with the warmth of antique gold. The interplay of the rich blue of the gemstones and warm yellow of the gold speaks of the elegance of the past. Created by George O. Street & Sons in 14kt gold, circa 1900.

Sansbury & Nellis bloodstone cufflinks.

Heliotrope, more commonly known as "bloodstone," is a beautiful gemstone with bright red spots set in dark green jasper. The finest examples have the mesmerizing appearance of fiery embers smoldering in a dark bed of ashes. These Art Deco cufflinks feature elongated oval heliotropes set in bright yellow gold. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1920.

Lapis lazuli and gold cufflinks.

During the Art Deco era the passion for bold, dramatic colors found ready expression in lapis lazuli. The rich blue of the lapis set in these cufflinks is accented with small bits of pyrite (fools gold) that shimmer and sparkle like golden confetti falling in the midnight sky. These elegant cufflinks capture the festive, raucous spirit of the Jazz Age. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1925.

Victorian moss agate sleeve buttons.

Victorian sleeve buttons with mesmerizing moss agates. The moss agates feature a swirling tangle of green inclusions that glow like seaweed floating in filtered sunlight above the ocean floor. The gemstones are set in gold frames with richly engraved leaves and scrolls. Crafted in 10kt gold, circa 1900.

Larter & Sons hawk's eye tuxedo set.

An elegant tuxedo set with hawk's eyes in yellow gold. Hawk's Eye is a striking variety of quartz with deep blue edges shading into a glowing, bluish-gray "cat's eye" across the middle. The shimmering cat's eye effect (or "chatoyancy") and color of the gemstones plays beautifully against the warm tones of the yellow gold. This dress set was created by Larter & Sons in 14kt gold, circa 1950.

These and other fine cufflinks can be found in
the Antique Cufflink Gallery.

Recent Additions

During the busy holiday season we have added cufflinks set with diamonds, carnelians and moonstones to the Antique Cufflink Gallery. There is also an elegant Carrington dress set glittering with rose-cut diamonds and mother-of-pearl. Warmest wishes to all for the best of the holidays.

Diamond Elegance Elegant early Art Deco cufflinks set with sparkling diamonds. The platinum tops are beautifully engraved and surrounded by laurel wreath borders. Crafted in platinum and 14kt gold, circa 1920.




Carnelian and Gold Alluring sultry Carnelians set in gold. The interplay of the Carnelians' color and the yellow gold gives these cufflinks an inescapable elegance. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1920.




Moonstruck Luminous moonstones glow in the center of these mesmerizing gold cufflinks in the Arts & Crafts style. The bluish cast of the moonstones adds an air of mystery. Created in 14kt gold, circa 1900.




Carrington Elegance An elegant full dress with mother-of-pearl centers surrounded by sparkling halos of rose-cut diamonds. Crafted in platinum and 14kt gold, circa 1925.

In addition to the above cufflinks, I recently added a striking
Carter, Gough Moss Agate stickpin to the Antique Jewelry Gallery.

Additional photos of these and other fine antique cufflinks,
can be found in the Antique Cufflink Gallery.

Moss Agate Cufflinks

Carter, Howe Moss Agate Cufflinks, circa 1900.

Moss Agate Cufflinks

Over the last several weeks Spring has arrived in southern New Hampshire. The tulips are up, the lilacs are in bud and the wisteria is about to blossom. This explosion of color in the garden brings to mind one of my favorite gemstones found in antique cufflinks - Moss Agate.

Moss Agate is a beautiful variety of fine grained quartz shot through with green or earth-tone inclusions. This alluring gemstone is found in several flavors. Montana Moss Agate is a translucent milky white speckled with dark inclusions resembling small patches of moss or lichen. Another variety, Mocha Stone, was favored during the Victorian era. Mocha Stones were often set in cuff buttons and watch fobs and feature fantastic dendritic forms resembling the spreading branches of a miniature tree.

Carter, Howe Octagon Moss Agate Cufflinks, circa 1900.

However, the Moss Agates favored by cufflinks makers in the early 1900s are best described as "Seaweed" Agates. These beautiful gemstones have the mesmerizing appearance of green seaweed floating in a sunlit pool. When backed with mother-of-pearl or other white material and set in yellow gold, the effect is striking.

Carter, Howe Moss Agate Cufflinks, circa 1900.

Among the premier makers of elegant cufflinks and dress sets in the early 1900s was Carter, Howe & Company (Carter, Gough & Company after 1915). The firm created a dazzling array of cufflinks and dress sets featuring Moss Agates set in 14kt gold. Pictured above are several fine examples.

In the early 1900s, the firm appears to have specialized in creating fine cufflinks featuring unusual gemstones. Examples can be found set with Bloodstones, Onyx, Moonstones and other exotic gems. These lesser known gemstones were sometimes erroneously referred to as "semi-precious gems" - a misnomer belied by the beauty of the cufflinks in which they were set.

S&N Moss Agate Cufflinks, circa 1920.

Another firm that worked with gemstones beyond the traditional sapphires and diamonds was Sansbury & Nellis (S&N). Like many of the fine cufflink and jewelry makers of the day (including Carter, Howe), Sansbury & Nellis was based in Newark, New Jersey. From the style of its cufflinks and notices in the trade press, the firm appears to have operated from about 1900 until the 1930s. Pictured above is a beautiful pair of Sansbury & Nellis cufflinks featuring oval Seaweed Agates. The gemstones have nicely bevelled edges and are set in bright yellow gold. A nice example of the firm's work.

To view these and other beautiful antique cufflinks
please visit Antique Cufflink Gallery.

Recent Additions

Recent additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery include ferocious winged lions, beautiful Moss Agates from Sansbury & Nellis, elegant onyx and gold octagons, and jazzy white and yellow gold cufflinks by Ziething.

Roaring Lions! A menagerie of mythological and exotic creatures inhabit antique cufflinks. These cufflinks feature a roaring lion with avian features. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1910.




Moss Agate II Beautiful antique cufflinks featuring fine Moss Agates with the appearence of dark green seaweed floating in sunlit water. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1920.




Elegant Onyx! Some of the most elegant cufflink designs are the simplest. This pair of antique cufflinks features creamy black onyx set in octagonal yellow gold frames. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1920.




Golden Ovals! Jazzy white and yellow gold cufflinks featuring radiant yellow gold centers surrounded by dramatically engraved white gold borders. A beautiful example of jazzy Art Deco design. Created by Ziething & Company in 10kt gold, circa 1925.

Additional photos and details of these and other antique cufflinks,
can be found in the Antique Cufflink Gallery.

Antique Dress Sets

Carrington Onyx and Pearl Dress Set, circa 1925.

In 1946 Fred Astaire performed Irving Berlin's classic tune "Puttin' on the Ritz" in the movie "Blue Skies." The performance beautifully captured the elegant fashion sense of the times and was an instant hit. Who can resist singing along to:

Dressed up like a million dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper
Super duper!

This enthusiastic sense of style is reflected in the elegant dress sets and cufflinks of the period.

The Carrington black-and-white dress set pictured above is a good example. It radiates sophisticated elegance. The black Onyx tops are set with small white Pearls and surrounded by richly engraved platinum borders. Created around 1925, the set was originally purchased at Tiffany's.

Carrington Mother-of-Pear and Pearl Dress Set, circa 1930.

Carrington & Company was a maker of beautiful cufflinks, dress sets and other fine jewels during the first half of the 20th century. These white-on-white cufflinks feature Mother-of-Pearl centered with a small white Pearl. The platinum borders are embellished with a repeated geometric pattern in the Art Deco style. Another example of Carrington's elegant, sophisticated designs. The cufflinks were sold en suite with a matching set of shirt studs.

Garrigus Onyx and Pearl Dress Set, circa 1930.

This pair of Onyx and Pearl cufflinks exemplifies the simple elegance of Art Deco design. With matching shirt studs and vest buttons, the elegant ensemble is perfect for a night at the opera. Crafted in platinum and gold, the dress set was created by L.E. Garrigus & Company around 1930.

During the early 20th century, dress sets often followed the etiquette of black and white tie attire. Black Onyx or creamy white Mother-of-Pearl were often accented with small pearls or diamonds. The preferred precious metals were platinum and yellow gold.

Carter, Howe Moss Agate Dress Set, circa 1900.

But, dress sets were not just a matter of black and white. The cufflinks above are from a full dress set created by the jewelry firm Carter, Howe & Company in the early 1900s. The set features beautiful Moss Agates set in bright yellow gold. Carter, Howe created arresting dress sets and cufflinks with unusual gemstones, enamel accents and striking designs. While Carrington dress sets exude formal elegance, Carter, Howe dress sets embrace elegance with a little pizazz.

Carter, Howe Enamel and Gold Cufflinks, circa 1910.

Another example of Carter, Howe design. These cuff links and matching shirt studs (see photograph below) feature Mother-of-Pearl centers and dramatic borders of white enamel and yellow gold. Carter, Howe and the successor firm Carter, Gough excelled at creating imaginative designs and worked in a multitude of styles that appeal to both the collector and admirer of estate cufflinks and dress sets. What better way to look just like Gary Cooper. Super duper!

Carter, Howe Enamel and Gold Shirt Studs, circa 1910.

To view these and other dress sets from the past,
please visit our Antique Cufflinks Gallery.