49 - A SET OF GEORGIAN SILVER CUFFLINKS AND MATCHING BUTTONS

A SET OF GEORGIAN SILVER CUFFLINKS AND MATCHING BUTTONS CIRCA 1760-1790 The cufflinks each comprising two octagonal panels with scalloped concave sides, engraved with a four-petalled flower with cross-hatched centre and radiating lines, joined by wire rings bridged by a rectangular bar. The buttons each of octagonal form, engraved with a four-petalled flower with dotted petal tips and cross-hatched spandrels, with soldered wire loop shanks. Tests as silver Maker's mark 'AB' to each button and 'GM' to the cufflinks Size/dimensions: each face 1.70cm x 1.67cm Gross weight: 22.07g (total) The silver retains antique tarnish, with occasional yellowish-brown to dark grey toning. The pieces are remarkably well preserved, with no cracking, thinning or metal fatigue, and the soldered shanks remain intact and robust. Minor scratches, tiny rim nicks and surface irregularities under magnification confirm genuine wear, but overall the set is offered in very good condition. Before the cufflink as we know it, shirt cuffs were fastened with sleeve buttons: pairs of decorative buttons joined by a link or chain and passed through holes on both sides of the cuff. From the late seventeenth century they were worn at every level of society, in materials ranging from gold set with stones to silver, paste and base metal, and engraved silver examples such as these were among the most popular. The term “cuff link” only came into general use in the nineteenth century, when stiffly starched shirt cuffs made linked fasteners essential. Buttons and sleeve buttons were often sold in matching or related sets for coat, waistcoat and shirt, and were frequently decorated with flowers. Small silver items of this kind were generally exempt from full hallmarking and usually carry only a maker’s mark, as here.