French antique 18K gold cufflinks masks from antiquity

These unique 18K yellow gold French Victorian cufflinks from 1890 depict four grinning portraits resembling characters from Ancient Greek comedy and tragedy theatre. Through a cable chain, one cufflink connects assumingly a Satyr with horns and pointy ears to a devilish persona with pointed ears as well and fangs. As for the other cufflink, the portrait of a foolish old man with a moustache, a goatee and horns fit to impersonate Dionysos, the Greek god of wine, is hanging besides a feminine face with pointed ears resembling Medusa or a female worshipper of Dionysos.
With even every backside individually modelled and with the finest hinges on the back, these masculine jewels are a sample of pure French sophistication, which will assist you in any performance in this play without rehearsal that we call life.

Antique jewelry object group: cufflinks

Condition: excellent condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: France

Style: Late-Victorian - Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior decoration.

Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a regrettable excess of ornament. The Arts and Crafts movement, the aesthetic movement, Anglo-Japanese style, and Art Nouveau style have their beginnings in the late Victorian era.
  -  See also: late-Victorian or more info on styles

Style specifics: Late Victorian / early Art Nouveau - The subject of this piece, although typical 19th Century, announces the coming of the Art Nouveau style.

Extra information: These cufflinks are a strong representation of the craftsmanship of the medallists of the Late Victorian era in France. Designers continued to use this technique of engraving medals extensively during the Art Nouveau period. The manufacturing of this type of jewellery became so widely known and appreciated, that the makers deserved their own style division, called "the medallists".

Period: ca. 1880
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Source of inspiration: Mythology

Theme: Four comedy and tragedy masks (?)

Material: 18K yellow gold
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Hallmarks: The French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head that was in use in France from about 1838.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: each head approximately 1,77 cm (0,70 inch) x 1,17 cm (0,46 inch)

Weight: 11,40 gram (7,33 dwt)

Reference Nº: 16061-0012

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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