Recent additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery feature three striking Art Deco dress sets and an elegant pair of Larter cufflinks with flowing acanthus leaves.
Acanthus Leaf! Dramatic gold cufflinks with flowing acanthus leaves. A nice example of the flowing, natural curves favored in Art Nouveau design. Crafted by Larter & Sons in 14kt gold, circa 1900.
Art Moderne! A striking full dress set with the elegant lines and geometry of the late Art Deco period. Crafted in platinum and 14kt gold, circa 1930.
Platinum & Onyx! An elegant black onyx full dress set with small white pearls. The interplay of black and white is accentuated by brilliant platinum borders. Crafted in platinum and 14kt gold, circa 1925.
can be found in the Antique Cufflink Gallery.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Recent Additions
Recent additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery include an elegant Larter blue enamel and gold pair, striking Strobell & Crane sapphire and diamond cufflinks, late Victorian cufflinks reflecting the arabesque designs of Moorish Spain, and intricate Art Deco diamond cufflinks.
Infinite Squiggles! Elegant blue and gold cufflinks featuring an endless golden tangle of squiggles. A nice example of the dramatic, imaginative designs of the 1930s and '40s. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1930.
Arabesque! Wonderful cufflinks reflecting the Victorian interest in the intricate arabesque designs of Moorish Spain and the Middle East. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1900.
can be found in the Antique Cufflink Gallery.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Antique Cufflinks: Objects of Adornment
Larter blue enamel and gold cufflinks, circa 1930.In several earlier posts, I discussed the artistry and history of antique cufflinks. This month's note is about cufflinks as objects of personal adornment. These three factors - Artistry, History and Adornment - in large part explain the irresistible attraction of antique cufflinks. Together they constitute the "AHA Effect."
The reasons individuals wear antique cufflinks are many. At the most rudimentary level cufflinks are functional - they hold a shirt cuff together. Beyond the utilitarian, a wearer may select a pair of antique cufflinks because he/she wishes to enjoy a miniature work of art and literally keep it close at hand. Another wearer may be motivated by a sense of history. While others may aspire to a public display of wealth.
Fortuitously, the designs of antique cufflinks are as diverse as the motives of those who wear them. The period from 1880 to 1950 saw the creation of cufflinks in many distinct styles, ranging from Victorian to Art Nouveau, Edwardian to Art Deco. Among antique cufflinks there is something to suit almost any taste.
This point is better illustrated with photographs than words. Below is a sampling of fine antique cufflinks from the 1890s until the 1940s. These cufflinks would beautifully adorn any cuff.
Striking guilloche enamel cufflinks with translucent purple enamel over an engine turned pattern of radiating ovals. A nice example of the beautifully crafted, bold designs created by Carrington & Co. during the 1920s and 1930s. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1930.
Beautifully designed platinum and gold cufflinks with intricately engraved centers and platinum borders with Greek key accents. These elegant cufflinks were created around 1910 by one of the founding firm's of the American jewelry industry, Durand & Company.
A menagerie of mythological creatures and exotic animals inhabit antique cufflinks. These cufflinks feature a roaring lion with striking eagle-like features. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1910.
An exuberant pair of Art Deco cufflinks with radiant sunburst centers and black enamel accents. Engraved yellow and white gold borders complement the design with bold Art Deco motifs. Crafted in 14kt white and yellow gold, circa 1925.
Wonderful white-on-white cufflinks featuring mother of pearl centers surrounded by elegantly scrolling white gold borders with a small pearl in the center. Crafted in 14kt gold , circa 1920.
The elegance of the Edwardian era sparkles in these platinum and diamond cufflinks. The soft engraving of the platinum shimmers like watered silk. Crafted in platinum and 14kt gold, circa 1910.
Beautifully crafted gold cufflinks in the Arts & Crafts style from Carrington & Co. The hand-hammered gold surfaces shimmer like sunlight sparkling on a gently rippling pool of water. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1900.
Late Victorian cufflinks with dramatic winged scarabs. A wonderful example of Egyptian Revival design from of the late 1800s. Antique cufflinks often reflect an enthusiasm to past periods and ancient civilizations. Created by Sloan & Co. in 14kt gold, circa 1890
The curving, intertwining lines of ancient Celtic design inspired beautiful cuff jewels during the 19th century Celtic Revival. Another example, of the late Victorian interest in ancient cultures. These finely crafted cufflinks were created by George O. Street in 14kt gold, circa 1900.
Beautiful Tiffany Art Nouveau cufflinks featuring Old European Cut diamonds and blue Sapphires set amid flowing, intertwining curves. Crafted in 18kt gold, circa 1900.
The above and many other fine cufflinks from the past can be
found in the Antique Cufflink Gallery.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Recent Additions
Recently several clients asked if I could provide notices of new additions to the Antique Cufflink Gallery. This is a good idea. So, every few weeks I will post a summary of recent acquisitions.
This first installment features a striking pair of Larter serpent cufflinks, Carrington cufflinks in the Art & Crafts style, and jazzy sapphire and diamond cufflinks from the 1920s.
please visit the Antique Cufflink Gallery.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Carrington & Company Platinum and Pearl Shirt Studs, circa 1925.Shirt Studs
Antique dress sets often include only two or three shirt studs. In contrast, modern dress shirts usually require four studs. The natural question is "What happened to the missing studs?"
Undoubtedly some shirt studs have been lost over the years, others damaged and maybe some even repurposed as earrings or other jewels. But the mystery of the missing shirt studs is best explained by the evolution of the dress shirt over the past century and a half.
Wordley, Allsopp & Bliss Shirt Stud, circa 1925.During the Victorian era dress shirts were a pullover style - somewhat like a golf or rugby shirt but with a detachable collar. The shirts did not have fully buttoned fronts, but instead were closed with just one or two buttons near the neck. As a result, often only two shirt studs were included in 19th century dress sets. Of course, the Victorians had other bits of paraphernalia to worry about, like collar buttons to secure those detachable collars.
Carrington & Co. Sapphire and Gold Shirt Studs, circa 1945.With the dawn of the 20th century fully buttoned dress shirts became the fashion and additional shirt studs were required. During the first half of the century formal dress included a waistcoat (vest) or, after its introduction by British military officers returning from India, a cummerbund. Three shirt studs sufficed to close the shirt front. During the first half of the century most dress sets included this number. The stud sets illustrated in this note are largely from this period.
Carter, Howe Enamel and Gold Shirt Studs, circa 1910.After World War II, the definition of formal attire continued to evolve. With changing times and social mores, tuxedos were increasingly worn without a waistcoat or cummerbund. The more fully exposed shirt front resulted in an additional stud being needed. Thus, contemporary dress sets include four shirt studs.
Larter & Sons Dark Abalone and Gold Shirt Studs, circa 1925.Having addressed the mystery of the "missing" shirt studs, the question remains "How do you wear an antique dress set with a modern dress shirt?" There are several workable solutions.
1. Employ a discreet mother of pearl or matching stud to secure the lowest button hole of the shirt and, of course, keep your jacket buttoned.
2. Have a dress shirt custom made to accept three shirt studs. Not a bad way to complement your investment in an antique dress set.
3. Adopt either of the above solutions and wear a waistcoat or cummerbund. Being somewhat of a traditionalist this is my preferred approach.
Wordley, Allsopp & Bliss Sapphire Dress Set, circa 1925.To view antique cufflinks and dress sets from the past,
please visit our Antique Cufflinks Gallery.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Unger Bros. Possum Cufflinks, circa 1900.The jewelry and taste makers of the decades around 1900 (the Late Victorian and Art Nouveau periods) were extremely fond of jewels featuring animals and insects. It is fair to say they were a little critter crazy.
Among cufflinks of this period you find a diverse menagerie of exotic and mythical creatures. From traditional links sporting foxes and hounds to the fantastic hybrid creations of the Art Nouveau jewelers. In between dwell lions, possums, dragons and griffins.
Here I feature a wonderful pair of gold cufflinks from about 1900. The cufflinks feature regal lions prowling through a jungle of swirling vines. The cufflinks beautifully illustrate the sinuous, flowing curves and asymmetry of Art Nouveau design. It is reasonable to wonder if a pair of cufflinks like these inspired C.S. Lewis when he wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe several decades later. There is something magical about the Art Nouveau designs.
Crafted in 14kt gold, these cufflinks nicely evince the artistry and craftmanship often found in antique cufflinks. The links were created by Larter & Sons, a firm founded in 1865 and still making jewelry today. In several earlier posts I discussed the distinctive gold and enamel cufflinks created by Larter & Sons during the 1920s.
Larter Gold and Enamel Cufflinks, circa 1920If you enjoy elegant cufflinks from the past,
please visit our Antique Cufflink Gallery.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
A striking pair of gold and blue cufflinks from Larter & Sons, maker of elegant cufflinks during the early decades of the last century. This wonderful pair features rich golden snowflakes surrounded by regal blue enamel and gold borders. Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1920.
