Larter & Sons Period Rings

Larter & Sons was a prolific maker of cufflinks and other gentlemen's accessories during the late 19th century and for much of the 20th century.  Their output ranged from fine gold and gem-set cufflinks and dress sets to less expensive, but equally well made, cufflinks and accessories crafted in lesser metals.

In the early 1920s the firm created a wonderful collection of handsomely designed, finely crafted men's rings reflecting the arts and architecture of past historic periods.  These rings were announced to the jewelry trade with a series of graphically striking advertisements matching the beauty and themes of the rings.  Below is Larter & Sons' advertisement summarizing the rings in the collection.  Advertisements for the individual rings can be found in earlier posts.

A full size rendition of this advertisement can be viewed in Larter & Sons Period Rings. 

 Elegant cufflinks created by Later & Sons and other fine jewels

can be found in the Antique and Estate Jewelry Gallery.

Larter & Sons Period Rings - Classical Revival

Larter & Sons was a prolific maker of cufflinks and other gentleman's accessories during the late 19th century and through much of the 20th century.  Their output ranged from fine gold and gem-set cufflinks and dress sets to less expensive, but equally well made, cufflinks and accessories crafted in base metal.

In the early 1920s the firm created a wonderful collection of handsomely designed, finely crafted men's rings reflecting the motifs and architecture of past historic periods.  These rings were announced to the jewelry trade with a series of graphically striking advertisements that matched the beauty and theme of the rings.  Below is the advertisement for Larter's ring inspired by the Classical Revival of the late 1700s - a period the jeweler characterized as an "age of utmost charm and refinement."

A full size rendition of this advertisement can be viewed at Larter & Sons - Classical Revival Ring.  Over the next several weeks I will post the advertisements for the other Period Rings. 

Elegant cufflinks created by Later & Sons and other fine jewels
can be found in the Antique and Estate Jewelry Gallery.

New in the Gallery - Cufflinks and Stickpins

I hope everyone has enjoyed pleasant holidays and is looking forward to a bright and prosperous New Year!

We have been busy in the gallery with the usual seasonal rush, but have managed to add several new pieces to the collection. These include strikingly beautiful Mermaid and Swan cufflinks by Krementz & Co. and elegant Art Deco Onyx cufflinks by Larter & Sons. In the Antique Stickpin Gallery there is a wonderful amethyst stickpin by Hans Brassler with a sparkling small diamond and laurel wreath sides that soar upward like raised wings.

Mermaid and Swan  A mermaid holding a sceptre sits amid gently swaying cattails while a swan glides by over the rippling water.  The scene is beautifully sculpted and the finely worked gold glows with the light of an early sunrise.  A masterpiece of Art Nouveau design.  Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1900.    Cost:  $1,325

Onyx Elegance  Elegant black onyx cufflinks with finely detailed Art Deco borders.  The contrast of the black onyx with the white gold borders perfectly highlights the striking geometric elegance of Art Deco design.   Created by Larter & Co. in 14kt gold,  circa 1925.    Cost:  $565

Amethyst and Diamond  A rich purple amethyst rests in a golden laurel wreath framed by rising volutes.  Beneath the laurel wreath a small diamond sparkles.  A striking example of the imaginative neoclassically inspired jewels created by Hans Brassler.  Crafted in 14kt gold, circa 1910.    Cost:  Sold

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

Garland Style Cufflinks

WAB garland style cufflinks, circa 1925.

Garland Style Cufflinks

Wordley, Allsop & Bliss (WAB) was one of the more prolific makers of fine cufflinks during the early decades of the last century. Founded in 1907, the firm created beautiful cufflinks in a great variety of styles and designs. Their work ranged from late Victorian sleeve links to dramatic, if understated, Art Deco designs during the 1920s.

WAB garland style cufflinks, circa 1925.

One of the signature designs of WAB was sweeping garlands surrounding a blossoming flower or sparkling gemstone. Known as the "garland style", these cufflinks reflect the influence of beautiful jewels created by Cartier in Paris and Faberge in St. Petersburg during the years around 1900.

Turning away from the sometimes fussy eclecticism of Victorian jewels and the surreal "naturalism" of Art Nouveau design, Cartier and Faberge turned to late 18th century France and the ill-fated court of Louis XVI for inspiration. The elegant jewels of the period sparkled with a cornucopia of Neoclassical motifs - garlands, swags, bowed ribbons and naturalistic flowers.

WAB sapphire and gold cufflinks, circa 1925.

WAB's interpretation of Neoclassical design incorporates bowed ribbons - represented as three squares or rectangles in a row with flared ends just below - from which suspend flowing garlands of small flowers. The garlands surround a stylized flower, or is it a radiant star burst? The centers were also often set with diamonds or rich blue cabochon sapphires.

WAB black and white ufflinks, circa 1925.

Most of the WAB garland-style cufflinks have double-box-and-cross borders as thrown into dramatic relief in this pair of black-and-white cufflinks from the Art Deco era. A second border design features elongated "S" scrolls in trapezoid-shape cells. This border appears to have been reserved for rectangular cufflinks with canted corners. The gold and cabochon sapphire cufflinks pictured above are a nice example of the latter design.

WAB created beautiful cufflinks in white and yellow 14kt gold from 1907 into the 1930s. During this period the firm underwent several name changes and was eventually absorbed by Krementz & Company during the 1950s. The maker's mark of the firm, "WAB" with the letters conjoined, is found stamped on the cross bars of the cufflinks with a "14K" gold purity mark just below or on the opposite side.

Strobell & Crane garland style cufflinks, circa 1920.

Although WAB was a significant creator of garland style cufflinks, they were not the only one. Other firms like Larter & Sons and Strobell & Crane also embraced the style. The above pair of Strobell & Crane cufflinks features cascading garlands of laurel leaves surrounding stylized flowers and faceted blue sapphires. The sweeping garlands are enclosed in a quatrefoil frame which along with the antique color of the gold gives the cufflinks a wonderful Medieval feel.

WAB garland style cufflinks, circa 1925.

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