Let’s end this run of newly-acquired cufflinks with this particularly “ship shape” pair. Made in Art Deco England in the 1930’s, they are cut into twelve-sided “clipped rectangles” and decorated with two parallel bars of royal blue enameling. Between the enameled bars lies their most interesting decorative element: a face of wavy, “machine-turned” lines. Engraving (or otherwise marking) metals has been performed for centuries. But in the 16th century, machines were developed to mechanically allow ever-tighter and ever-more-precise engraving. Initially, these machines were used to engrave soft materials (like ivory or wood). In the 18th Century, machine-engraving (or “machine-turning”) metals became very popular. All manner of decorative and personal objects were thus embellished: jewelry, boxes, hand mirrors, pens, cigarette cases, snuff boxes, money clips and every kind of personal grooming implement. Sometimes tools or industrial metal surfaces were embellished with machine-turning in order to reduce glare or allow the surface to better hold oil (or another industrial liquid).
In the pair above, the machine-turned “waves” give the pair of cufflinks a nautical sensibility—encouraged, of course, by the sharp royal blue enameled bars. This pair is only one of many newly-acquired cufflinks, purchased to re-stock after the active Holiday selling period. Please come into the shop to see all of our new cufflinks or click on the photo above to learn moree about this pair.
From 26 December through New Year’s Day, LEO Design is open from noon to 6:00 pm daily.