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Cufflinks by Site

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18CV271 Patuxent Point

c. 1651 - 1690s

18AN1188 Willson

c. 1710
Cast pewter buttons with a copper alloy link. The motif of six circles around a center circle gives the appearance of being a setting for jewels, though it clearly was not designed to have any. Linked plain silver dome pair from 18AN1188 Willson Site.

18CV83 King’s Reach

c. 1689 - 1711

18AN339 Java

c. 1720
Plain domed copper alloy buttons with a copper alloy link. The alloys of the buttons and link appear to have different amounts of copper since the color is very different after chemical stripping. Blue faceted glass jewel set in a copper alloy setting from 18AN339 Java Site.    Undecorated round silver button face with copper alloy corrosion from 18AN339 Java Site. Undecorated round silver button face with copper alloy corrosion from 18AN339 Java Site.     Broken round copper aloy button with flower pattern.
18CH778 Johnsontown

c. 1670 - 1740

18ST329 Fly

c. 1650 - 1750

18CV91 Smith St. Leonard

c. 1711 - 1754
Cast pewter stud. It may have served as a sleeve button or it might also have been for a collar or other part of clothing. Blue faceted glass jewel in a copper alloy setting with a decorative crimped rim. Clear conical faceted glass jewel in a copper alloy setting with a decorative rim from 18CV91 Smith St. Leonard Site. Sexfoil pattern with raised dots from 18CV91 Smith St. Leonard Site.
Pewter setting fragment with two surviving colorless insets molded with a floral pattern. Black glass inset with raised dots on the front.      Clear inset from 18CV91 Smith St. Leonard Site. Clear inset from 18CV91 Smith St. Leonard Site. Clear conical faceted glass jewels in copper alloy settings with decorative rims.
Cast pewter button with an iron link. The motif of six circles around a center circle gives the overall button a flower shape. Solid silver sleeve link without any decoration. Colorless glass sleeve link inset with a claddagh pattern molded into the back

18QU28 Bennett's Point

c. 1675 - 1765

18CV60 Angelica Knoll

c. 1650 - 1770
             

18CH354 Bateman/Swan Point

c. 1710-1780
Copper alloy button settings with colorless molded glass insets. The design molded on the back of the inset appears to be a single flower bloom with its stem and two leaves.       Ivory button turned and carved so that the undecorated button front and shank are all one piece. The S-shaped link is iron.     Cast copper alloy buttons with a floral or pinwheel pattern on the front.   Copper alloy button back with a dark black or purple glass inset, flat on the front and beveled at the edge. The copper corrosion of the button back is toxic to microorganisms, which likely explains how some fabric that was in contact with the button survived and is still attached to the button back. The weave is visible, and the fabric is probably linen.     Copper alloy button setting with a bright blue ovoid faceted inset. The scalloped edge of the setting holding the inset and the oval shape are characteristics that appeared in the second half of the 18th century.

18AN39 Saunders Point

c. 1700 - 1790s
           Clear glass inset with a rounded top and flat back. The back is molded with a geometric design that looks like ropes laid out in a cross shape - click on image to see a larger view.
Cufflinks with large green faceted glass insets set in a plain mount - click on image to see larger view.     Cast copper alloy buttons with two hearts topped by a crown. It has been suggested that this motif commemorates a royal wedding (Noël Hume 1961) - click on image to see larger view.     Cast copper alloy buttons with a pinwheel-like floral motif. The center flower is surrounded by emanating rays and two rings of leaves - click on image to see larger view.
18WA288 Antietam Furnace

c. 1761 - 1790

18PR705 Pleasant Prospect Site 1

c. 1730 - 1790s
 Clear conical inset with faceted face. Such insets could be used in sleeve buttons or other jewelry - click on image to see larger view. Clear conical inset with faceted face. Such insets could be used in sleeve buttons or other jewelry - click on image to see larger view.

18APX12: Isolated Find in Annapolis

ca. 1775 - 1800
18ST642 NAVAIR

c. 1750 - 1800s
Oval colorless inset with a smooth rounded cabochon top and a back molded with the word “LIBERTY” in reverse so that it would show through the inset. Circular sleeve button that appears plain, but under a microscope shows possible evidence of stamped lettering or decoration. It is not possible to tell whether there was a decoration that has worn off, or whether corrosion is creating an illusion of lettering - click on image for larger view.

18BA282 Banneker

c. 1737 - 1806
Clear glass inset with a conical back and faceted front (blurred in the photo) - click on image for larger view.           Green glass inset with a rounded top and flat back. The back is molded with a geometric design that looks like a basket-weave pattern (blurred in the photo) - click on image for larger view.           Octagonal silver button front with green discoloration on the reverse, indicating that it had probably been mounted on a copper alloy back and shank - click on image for larger view.

18CV151 Bowens Road II

c. 1780 - 1820

18BA100 Howard-McHenry Mill

c. 1798 - 1880s
Fragmentary octagonal button is very worn, but it appears to have a zig-zag decoration around the edge and it may also have a worn floral motif at the center from 18CV151 Bowens Road II site. Fragmentary octagonal button is very worn, but it appears to have a zig-zag decoration around the edge and it may also have a worn floral motif at the center from 18CV151 Bowens Road II site. Flat copper alloy button with a heavily worn floral motif. There appears to be one four-petaled flower with the petals on the long axis of the oval shape larger than the petals on the short axis. Discoloration on the back is the artifact label.

18PR175 Oxon Hill / Addison Plantation

c. 1687 - 1895

Solid silver sleeve link with a brilliant cut inset that is not made of glass. The lack of decay of the stone suggests that it is colorless quartz which was popularly known in the 17th and 18th centuries as Bristol stone. The cut is slightly asymmetric and the size is small, suggesting likely use as a linked button.

18MO609 Jackson Homestead

c. 1800-1915

18AP52 Gott's Court

c. 1720 - 1930
White metal oval link, possibly silver. There is no evidence of decoration, but the link has been burned and is covered in soot.

18WA20 Fort Frederick

c. 1756 - 1930s

    

    

18ST87 St. Inigoes Manor House at Priest’s Point

c. 1740s - 1942

18ST704 Charles’ Gift

c. 1675 - 1943
Flat shell or mother-of-pearl set into a plain copper alloy setting. The link is relatively short, attached to two hanging shanks that can lay flat against the back of the button - click on image for larger view.

18FR575 Birely Tannery

c. 1764 - 1960


18FR134 Schifferstadt

c. 1756 - Present
Octagonal copper alloy sleeve button with a clover-shaped decoration on its face. The shank break indicates that the link pulled through the loop with great force - click on image for larger view.    Linked copper alloy buttons with the molded pattern of a Mexico City pillar dollar coin. The lettering reads, “UTRAQUE UNUM” and “.M.1769.M.” - click on image for larger view.Octagonal copper alloy sleeve buttons with decoration in a circle within circles pattern. One shank has worn through - click on image for larger view. Oval-shaped sleeve link with a scalloped metal edge surrounding a colorless inset molded on the back with the pattern of a single rose. The back of this button is also decorated with a texture like a basket weave spiraling out from the center.

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Copyright © 2002 by Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab
Updated:  5/31/2013

Plain flat oval leather ornament from 18PR175-9645. Clear glass inset in a plain copper alloy setting. The inset has a rounded front and flat back, molded with a motif that looks like a flower in the center of a wreath of dots - click on image to see a larger view. Faceted clear glass inset. Such insets could be used in sleeve buttons or other jewelry - click on image to see a larger view. Silver button with faceted clear glass inset - click on image to see larger view. Faceted green glass inset discolored by patination or decay. Such insets could be used in sleeve buttons or other jewelry - click on image to see larger view. Octagonal links with a Tudor rose motif at the center and dots around the rim - click on image to see larger view.   Clear conical inset with beveled face. Such insets could be used in sleeve buttons or other jewelry - click on image for larger view. Hollow, domed copper alloy buttons with a basket-weave pattern at the center and curved rays emanating from this center motif to the edges. Two holes are present on the back of each button as is common for domed buttons made in two pieces (back and dome) - click on image for larger view. Sexfoil pattern with raised dots from 18CV91 Smith St. Leonard Site. Clear conical faceted glass jewel in a copper alloy setting with a decorative rim from 18CV91 Smith St. Leonard Site. Cast pewter stud. It may have served as a sleeve button or it might also have been for a collar or other part of clothing. Blue faceted glass jewel in a copper alloy setting with a decorative crimped rim. Clear conical faceted glass jewels in copper alloy settings with decorative rims. Black glass inset with raised dots on the front. Colorless glass sleeve link inset with a claddagh pattern molded into the back Pewter setting fragment with two surviving colorless insets molded with a floral pattern.