Featured Cufflinks,

Hi,
I have few pairs of cufflinks that I would like to know more about.
The first one shows a depiction, can’t quite make it what it is.
Anyone can recognise it?
Thank you.
@Bronwen @PepperAnna @kyratango @Any Jewelry @Ownedbybear

 

It's a Montgolfier Balloon.



The Mongolfiers were paper manufacturers, and the balloon was made of paper-lined silk and first launched in 1783.

 

Mongolfier balloon seconded. They look to have silver marks on the back, but I can't blow the image up and see whose.

 

I am going to look at them with a magnifying glass tomorrow morning and post the findings.

 

Thank you so much for sharing, found the link below:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgolfier_brothers
Very interesting, going to spend the night reading about them.

Now, moving on to the next pair, they are unique as I have not came across any similar pair.
They are painted, the backs are very different.
Sterling silver, not hallmarked. There is an actual gold dot on the painting.
Anyone can identify the person in the painting?
How old do you think they are?
Thank you.
@kyratango @Ownedbybear @PepperAnna @Any Jewelry @Bronwen
I have a feeling this is something to see.
Xx

 

Rather than a portrait of an individual, it appears to be a woman in native dress.

Debora

 

The Montgolfier balloons are what’s known as Essex Crystal. British silver marks but I can’t read them. That woman looks enamelled.

 

Thank you.
I wonder if you could guide me into understanding the difference between enamelled and painted. There is so much detail in the lady portrait, the picture is impeccable. I will have a look again at them, they are my favourite pair, although I don’t know anything about them.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Simona

 

I think she's Italian, but that's all I've got.

 

The backs of your Montgolfier links.....best I can see:

​

 

An interesting (and short) YouTube video on dating cufflinks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-q4PyedLSss

Debora

 

1993 Birmingham sterling

http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/Birmingham/Date Letters T.html

Unfortunately there does not appear to be a maker entry for HDE.

 

From @Bakersgma link......?

​

 

Yes

 

I always seen the portrait as a child, as it’s a very young face. The hat looks like a chef hat, but again this may have been a fashion at the time. I need to look at the cufflinks again for details.
The portrait is so well done, in so much detail, it’s striking.
Would appreciate opinion on it, maybe clothes that were worn at a particular time. Italy is a possibility. Any other thoughts?
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Simona

 

Italy or European provincial woman in traditional costume. Nice enamel!

 

Beautiful cuff links, Simona, thank you for tagging me.

I think it is those chubby cheeks that make her look as a child, but she is a woman. A chubby woman, probably.

It is not a fashion picture, it is a picture of a woman in regional costume.
She is probably meant to be Italian, as others said, but the headdress of parts of central and southern Italy is a white shawl with the top folded in a square. It doesn't have a band around the head, which the one on the cufflinks has.
So the enamel probably wasn't made in Italy.

I know porcelain placques of girls in regional dress were made in Germany, ca 1900. I have one of a girl in Greek dress, which is pretty accurate.
I think your 'Italian' lady may have been made in Germany, by someone who didn't quite understand how a folded shawl would stay on the head and added a band.

The way to secure shawls or lace caps to the head is the same as hats, simply pins, either through the hair or through a small skullcap.

 

Just a sample.

Debora

 

Thank you, I just checked them.
You are right, the hallmarks are for Birmingham and the letter T like in your image, 1993, relatively new, The air ballon has some interesting history.
Xx

 

Lol, imagination is sometimes handy….
Just looked at them with a loupe, has some scratches but it does not seem to affect the colours. They are still the same under the scratches, my logic says that the colours goes into a deeper layer. The eyelashes and the eyebrows are particularly beautiful and enhanced. Blushing cheeks, and the clothes have different shades of blue and red as they were pained.
Please enlighten me, how can these shades of colours be achieved with enamel? My idea of enamel is very different, I thought scratches on enamel takes away the colour, the metal will be showing after a scratch.
These cufflinks colours are not affected by the scratches.
The layer seems to raise above the silver setting.
I would like to understand how they were made, an example or a link to read would be great.
Thank you so much.
Kind regards,
Simona