British Merchant Captains Gold Dress Cuff

[Patriot Relics]

British Merchant Captain's Gold Dress Cuff

Hey guys,

Following my last hunt with gheenoe78 at an old Revolutionary War battery 2 weeks ago, I posted what I initially believed to be a Revolutionary War gold officer's dress cuff. After some correspondence with the British National Maritime Museum, I can now confirm that the cuff actually belonged to a wealthy British Ship Merchant Captain and dates between 1757 and 1774. The maritime specialist stated with high certainty that it would have belonged to a merchant captain rather than a Royal Naval officer. This was determined because Royal Navy Officers used a "Double Tudor Rose Pattern" rather than the single 8 petal pattern depicted in my cuff. Additionally, silver rather than gold was used in the Royal Navy until 1778. Gold adornment fashioned with the Tudor Rose was exclusively used by rich ship captains to project wealth and power! Thanks for looking and for all of your help ID'ing this find.

 

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[UnderMiner]

Wow, just imagine the stories that little piece of gold could tell if only it could talk. The adventures it must have seen. Amazing discovery! Great save of a little piece of history! And it's gold! And nautical gold is the best kind of gold!

 

[CRUSADER]

That ID I'm more conformable with, congrats on the research. That early date range, or at least the lack of extension on the end bothers me a little. Pretty sure this style was still in use after 1774. Therefore, I would love to know where that assumption came from. Specially with the lack of Hallmarks.

 

[park pirate]

Nice one..

 

[voodoo]

Nice find and way to go on the research! Kudos!

 

[Carolina Tom]

Very nice. Congrats on a really killer find! GL&HH.

 

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice digs.

 

[pepperj]

Thanks for the update on what you have confirmed about the cuff, is that the initial in the second picture?

 

[collector01]

Congrats! Beautiful cufflink. I've found three pewter cufflinks with Tudor roses but no gold, great find! HH!

 

[Patriot Relics]

That ID I'm more conformable with, congrats on the research. That early date range, or at least the lack of extension on the end bothers me a little. Pretty sure this style was still in use after 1774. Therefore, I would love to know where that assumption came from. Specially with the lack of Hallmarks.

Hey Crusader,

As always you are spot on with your attention to detail. The museum expert did cover his assessment with a blanket "without provenance I cannot be 100% certain on the date range". From my own research, most button experts do assert that the octagonal cuff fell out of style in the second half of the 18th century.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Thanks for the update on what you have confirmed about the cuff, is that the initial in the second picture?

Hey Pepper,

Yes, the initial M is cut into the rim and is likely a surname or initial of the owner. Prehaps the other initial was on the adjacent cuff

 

[Rivers rat]

Like it !!!!


RR

 

[Argentium]

Great find ! has the button been tested for gold content (karat /purity ) ?

 

[Scrappy]

Holy crap that's a nice find! I'm a merchant marine Master myself, but we don't wear things like that anymore. Congrats on one of the coolest finds I've seen in a while!

 

[Patriot Relics]

Great find ! has the button been tested for gold content (karat /purity ) ?

Hey Argentium,

The chemical streak test confirmed 22K.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Anything gold and 18th c. is a great find. Congrats!

 

[Vino]

I have to bring this thread back to life!!!
I cant believe this didn't get the attention it deserved!!
Fantastic find..

 

[bill from lachine]

That's one beauty of a cuff button....haven't seen many gold buttons ever posted.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[ironhorse]

It seems like it was so long ago, actually so many finds or posts ago!
You really can't take anything away from that find, a pure winner all the way!
Seeing it now(or again) it sure is a fine find!

 

[HomeGuardDan]

I always go back and forth with the Tudor rose design. There certainly are documented English naval use. However, there are also documented American civilian use (I.e. George Washington). I've found many Tudor rose buttons and most are octagonal cuffs (some still linked together) and found at house sites where no other military buttons were found. However, given where you found it, I'd guess the likelihood is higher than not that it was naval used. So many people find a Tudor rose and immediately say British naval, it was refreshing to see you post a detailed description of what it is and is not. Great find man!