![]() Dragon and Diamond Cufflinks![]() Dragons and Diamonds! |
The Victorians were mesmerized by a menagerie of imagined and fantastic creatures - griffins, basilisks, dragons and sea serpents. This interest in mythological beasts continued into the early 20th century and was reflected in cufflinks and stickpins. This dramatic pair of cufflinks features a dragon or possibly a sea serpent fiercely guarding a small diamond. Crafted in 10kt gold, circa 1900.
![]() The mythical beast is surrounded by flowing motifs that could be fire or fins. One interpretation is that the subject is a fire-breathing dragon greedily protecting a diamond. A second is that the beast is a sea serpent surrounded by floating fins and other aquatic forms. The wave-like lines in the background lend credence to the sea serpent theory.
![]() The backs of the cufflinks are as nicely crafted as the fronts. The solid tops are attached to oval bean-shape backs with sturdy split bridges. The split bridges helps keep the links properly oriented on the cuff.
![]() The bridges are stamped "K10KT". The initial "K" is likely the maker's mark and the following "10KT" indicates the purity of the gold. I have not yet identified the maker of these cufflinks.
Name: Dragons and Diamonds
The Victorian love for mythological critters is also evident in beautifully
detailed stickpins. Below is a striking winged serpent stickpin.
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Antique Jewelry Galleries Antique Cufflink Gallery If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, I can be reached at arthur@elegantcufflink.com or 978 412-6633.
Or, if you prefer snail mail, my postal address is: |
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