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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
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 Regarding 18th century cufflinks
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| Author | Topic: Regarding 18th century cufflinks |
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OWK Posts: 69 |
posted 04-16-2008 05:24 PM
  
[26-1632] I don't seem to have posting privileges in other fora here.. (even though some topics I have started have been moved to fora I cannot access).. In any case, I was hoping someone could pass along the following info to Paul Lemieux regarding his 18th century cuff links. The phrase "Liberty and Peace" had a significant connotation in New England (and in particular Boston) in the last quarter of the 18th century. The poet Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) wrote a poem entitled "Liberty and Peace" which was printed and popularly distributed by Warden and Russell in 1784. It was apparently quite the rage. It is possible that these cufflinks were items of popular culture associated with the poem. Also, It would be interesting to see how those cufflinks performed as a wax seal. IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 04-16-2008 06:59 PM
OWK, Thanks for the information. It may well be these were made with reference to that popular poem. For reference in this forum, here are the pictures IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 04-16-2008 10:39 PM
I thought of wax seals too, but you're doubtless right about burnt fingers. Maybe someone good at manipulating images could digitally flip the backwards side of the link, so we could compare it to the forwards side. Would that be illuminating in any way? IP: Logged |
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OWK Posts: 69 |
posted 04-17-2008 07:44 AM
Paul, I was not suggesting that these were intended as wax seals, only that it would be interesting to see the wax negative (in effect allowing you the see the die swage from which they were struck). Reversing the photograph (while allowing you to read the text) isn't quite the same thing. It's probably more mess and trouble than it's worth though. (and also runs the risk of damaging the patina on these) For what it's worth, I agree that they are 18th century, and they sure are very handsome pieces. Given that they're almost certainly swaged or die struck, I'll have to keep my eye out for others. I am enthralled by 17th and 18th century American silver, but I must confess that I rarely think to look for anything but tableware when searching for new acquisitions. I'm going to have to broaden my horizons. IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 04-17-2008 12:19 PM
Well, if a cufflink was used to emboss sealing wax, the result would look something like this (try to imagine the wax being a more exciting color like red). IP: Logged |
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salmoned Posts: 336 |
posted 04-17-2008 08:28 PM
Yes, these pieces would serve properly as INK transfer agents (stamps), though. IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 04-17-2008 08:45 PM
There's an interesting optical illusion whereby a photo or drawing of an indentation can look like an extrusion if viewed upside down (and vice versa). If you have a laptop, you can sometimes get this to work by turning the computer upside down--or if it's a desktop, you try viewing the monitor while standing on your head. IP: Logged |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 04-18-2008 06:21 PM
Using these as seals or stamps just seems fraught with inconvenience. I originally had thoughts more along the lines that "Liberty & Peace" could have been a slogan for an organization, political faction, etc., and given the "peace" part, possibly a pacifist group opposed to the Revolutionary War (or some other war). People may have joined sub rosa, and wanted only to be recognized by other members--hence the mirror writing. I think people just glancing at the cufflinks on somebody's shirt probably wouldn't immediately recognize the design as actual words, and therefore wouldn't realize the wearer had an "agenda" of spreading liberty & peace. Or is this too romantic and far-fetched? As OWK says, they are die-struck or swaged, so obviously multiples were made. I bet some little historical society in New England has another pair and knows exactly what they mean! FWIW I bought them in Vermont. [This message has been edited by Paul Lemieux (edited 04-18-2008).] IP: Logged |
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