Vintage cufflinks Dante Museum Masterpieces cameo warrior amazon gladiator offers offered by Vintage Men's Swag Ahv-1
These great unique vintage cufflinks, part of Dante's Museum Masterpiece Collection, feature a profile of an ancient warrior in helment and with long hair. While most Museum Masterpeice sets have a name that I know, this set is unique and one I've not seen with any papers or info giving it's name. So I call them Amazon.
There is some wear to the black on each cameo, but this is an elegant and wearable set!
By the way, if you just LOVE Dante' Museum Masterpiece Collection items, please see our collector's guide, available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/615166769/collectors-guide-for-dante-museum?ref=shop_home_active_1
Date, estimate or known: c. 1970s
Condition: very good
Metal color: gold tone
Metal composition: alloy, probably plated
Decorative stone or other material: Incolay (see definition below)
Type of item: (see shop home page for definitions) cufflinks
Frame type: (see shop home page for definitions) thick shaft, toggle.
Brand:
Dante
Dante appears to have been a subsidiary of Shields, Inc., who registered the trademark in approximately 1961. At that time, they registered the trademark with “Dante'”. In 1963, the trademark “DANTE”” was registered, with the “D” containing a fleur de lis.
Years of Production: early 1960s – 1970s
Trademark(S) and date first used in Commerce: “DANTE” stamped inside the shaft is the most common and only firmly established Trademark. However, some sets, particularly with Incolay stone faces, bear a stamp of a capital “D” with a fleur di lei inside of the D, also inside the shaft. A suspected Dante mark has been noted on the back of the face of the cufflinks that is illegible but seems to be some design inside a raised offers smooth square. Attribution of unmarked or oddly marked sets requires more research.
For more information on the Dante Museum Masterpieces Collection, see my research article available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/615166769/collectors-guide-for-dante-museum
ante Museum Masterpieces
The most desirable Dante Collection and the only ‘collection' that has much documentation is the “Museum Masterpiece” collection, featuring historic works of art reproduced in Incolay stone. This collection has a variety of basic designs, but each design can and is found in small and large cufflinks, in oval, round, and square cufflink faces, with ‘over the cuff' mounts either solid or mesh, a variety of colors, and in tie tacks and tie pins. Many are found in original boxes, some of which are walnut with an Incolay lid. The Incolay lid of the box, if the original for the cufflinks enclose, is of the same color and basic theme as the cufflinks. Attribution to Dante primarily requires that the DANTE mark being found, in capital block letters and almost always inside the shaft. The same Incolay face stones were used and are found in Swank sets as well as in unmarked sets. Almost always, the Dante examples have the highest quality of stone detailing, and more highly finished back of the face mount. With more research, specifically on the design of the backs of the face of the cufflinks and the design of the frame of the stone, some unmarked pairs can be attributed to Dante. For more information on the Dante Museum Masterpieces Collection, see my research article available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/615166769/collectors-guide-for-dante-museum
From insert that came with Museum Masterpiece items:
“The Museum masterpiece collection of men's jewelry reaches across almost two thousand years to recreate the ancient art of cameo carving. These are authentic Incolay stones – exact reproductions of original carvings in our Masterpiece Collection selected from the museums of the Mediterranean where Greek and Roman artisans flourished from 400 B.C. to 300 A.D. “The first cameos, carved only for the well-to-do, depicted gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. It took many years and the fall of Greece to the Romans before cameo portraits became a realistic form of art in great demand. Cameo carving attained its greatest popularity during the reign of Augustus Caesar with engravers using multiple layers of colored onyx to care elaborate portrayals of heroic scenes, rulers, gods and historical events. “The fine, detailed carving of ancient cameos was an art virtually forgotten until the Incolay process was developed. The Incolay stone is a combination of mineral and chemicals and the result of many years of research and development. Unlike ancient onyx cameos, it will not chip or crack and can be cleaned with any jewelry compound. “The Incolay stone re-creates the priceless cameos now housed in museums throughout the world. Each carving will bring a lifetime of enjoyment, for Collections and Recollections.”
INCOLAY: Incolay Stone is a complex combination of quartx based minerals such as Rose Quartz, Sapphire Blue, Sardonyx, Carnelian, Onyx and Banded Agate, combined to produce these elegant pieces. The White Artwork is hand inlaid, and the variegated background is hand stratified. The two chemically fuse together into one solid piece of Incolay Stone. Each Piece is handcrafted and has a one of a kind stone formation. No two pieces can ever be identical and they are proudly made in the United States of America.
INCOLAY™ products are known throughout the world for their quality and superior workmanship. The artisans at INCOLAY™ utilize a process by which they are able to reproduce with precision and detail, the finest works of antiquity as well as the work of today's exceptional sculptors.
For more information on the Dante Museum Masterpieces Collection, see my research article available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/615166769/collectors-guide-for-dante-museum
See all our great listings here:
All our Great Men's Thingies: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMenSwag
Swank Arts of the World: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMenSwag?ref=ss_profile§ion_id=23221309
Dante Museum Masterpieces: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMenSwag?ref=ss_profile§ion_id=23186523
Ultra-unique Cuff Thingies: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMenSwag?ref=ss_profile§ion_id=23186555
Swank Royal Copenhagen Thingies: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMenSwag?ref=ss_profile§ion_id=23186535
Named Cuff Thingies by Swank: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageMenSwag?ref=ss_profile§ion_id=23186529
NOTES: If ads or other printed material are shown in the pictures for this item, be advised that those printed things are not included with the purchase unless the listing specifically says they are.
NOTES ON TIE CLIPS AND ACCESSORIES: Cufflink sets were common gifts in the first half of the 1900s. And they were often sold in sets that included the cufflinks and a tie accessory. However, as the 50s and 60s progressed, the cufflinks were not as often worn as the tie clip or accessory, and so the tie accessory was separated from the links or completely worn out or lost. So, finding a set that includes a tie clip, or finding a tie clip to match a pre-1970 set of cufflinks is somewhat rare. If you see a pair of cufflinks offered with a tie accessory and you like the design, consider yourself lucky and snap them up!
MULTIPLE MATCHING SETS: Planning a wedding or other event where you need two or more matching sets of cufflinks? Ask! We may have more than one pair in stock! And, if we don't but you give us several months of warning, we may be able to find the number of sets you need. If we have more than one listed and you want several matching sets, send us a message and we will work out a deal for you!
INITIAL AND NAME JEWELRY: Initial jewelry was popular from about 1930 to 1970, and can be found with one, two, or even three initials. Also, in the 1960s, some companies even began producing men's accessories with full names on them. My two cents worth? If you find a set with your last initial, strongly consider purchasing it if you like it. If it has your first and last initial, that's a pretty rare match. Three initials or your full first name? The stars are perfectly aligned for you and it's just meant to be! And for all these examples if it is a cufflink and tie accessory set, you really can't go wrong! As a friend advises, if it's your name or initial, you probably won't see it again!
SHIPPING: Vintage Men's Swag prides themselves on the quality and speed of their shipping. Each item you purchase will be carefully wrapped and boxed to ensure its safe arrival.
CONDITION GUIDE FOR MY DESCRIPTIONS: Perfect/New/Mint in Box: The item and or piece of jewelry has no visible flaws and no signs of wear or use. Excellent: The item and or piece of jewelry has no or only very slight evidence of wear. Very Good: The item and or piece of jewelry has small flaws that are not usually noticeable during wear. These flaws could include light scratches on the surfaces of imitation pearls, light scuffs on rhinestones, or light marks on the metal's finish. Good: The item and or piece of jewelry is completely wearable with working hardware. However, the rhinestones may be yellowing or beginning to turn gray (dark spots are visible when you are looking into the stone). Wear may be more visible, and there may be light chipping. Poor: The item and or piece of jewelry has visible damage that may include dark stones, missing stones, or broken parts. This item should be considered for repair or restoration purposes only.
REMEMBER: You are buying a vintage item. Even for items I indicate are in ‘perfect/mint/new/Mint in box, there still may be some minor scratches or other issues when the item is examined very closely. Most items in my shop are 40 to 60 years old, with many even older. They will have some ‘acquired character'. Also, even if I indicate the original box is present, the condition of that box may not be very good, particularly the exterior.
PHOTOS: I try to get sufficient pictures, of good quality, that allows you to see the details, construction, condition, and color of the items I list. However, with gold tone and silver tone items, by their very nature, it is difficult to capture the ‘exact shade' of their color. Compounding that issue is the difficulty of photographing certain rhinestones and crystals. Many will flash a variety of colors or have a luminescence that is hard to capture. In those cases, I try to capture the color and provide a feel for its variability with several pictures.