Unique, rare, and elegant! Swank vintage cufflinks Mouse possum pipe unique deals IQ-1

Brand: Swank

Date, estimate or known: 1960s

Description: Words simply escape me when it comes to this set of vintage Swank cufflinks! These are among the holy grail cufflinks for collectors of vintage men's accessories, and are so unique, so different, so.... odd, that they appeal to about everyone!

I really wish I knew what was going on in the design and marketing offices of Swank in the 1950s and 1060s. Some of the things they dreamed up are just amazing! And here you see a perfect example of that. Each of the cufflinks is not only a representation of a pipe, but a representation of a pipe with a figural mouse or other animal for a bowl. You have perhaps seen antique pipes like that, right? Well here they are, miniaturized as cufflinks. Amazing, eye-catching, and unique.

Due to the details of the design, some wear to the enameling is to be expected. In the case of this set of cufflinks, that adds to their appeal.

Rarity: 9

Metal color: gold tone, probably plated

Condition: very good

Metal composition: unknown

Stone or decorative addition composition: none

Frame type: toggle, thick shaft

Brand information: Swank
The “King” of brands in the vintage men's costume jewelry game, Swank has a long history as well as high name recognition. The company begain as Atteboro Manufacturing Company in Attleboro, MA in 1897, by Samuel Stone and Maurice Baer, making women's jewelry. Men's jewelry was added in 1908, and during World War I the company produced dog tags in support of the war effort. Swank's first line of men's cufflinks were a unique design called “kum-a-part”, and are a stong collectable today. More cufflink styles were added in the 1920s as the wearing of cufflinks returned to popularity, and in that decade, the name “Swank” was first used in advertising. The company itself became “Swank Products Inc” in 1938 and in 1941 the name was simplified again to “Swank Inc.” In the 1950s the men's accessory market exploded and would grow continually into the 1960s, with Swank riding the wave of popularity. Leather goods and other men's accessories were added in that decade as well. In the 1960s, during the height of popularity of cufflinks and tie accessories, the company produced over 12 million pairs a year, at an average cost of around $2.50 a pair. In 1967 Swank introduced the chain-back tacks, probably based on a recent patent they obtained. They called them “Action Chain”.

The popularity of the brand was driven by the high number of unique styles produced, from very traditional to very artistic and modern. Swank men's pendants and chains, as well as other items, are also moderately common on the market. That variety continues to drive the demand for vintage Swank pieces in the collectables market today.
production: 1908 – current (?)
Collectability: depending on style, low to very high.
Quality: Moderate to very good
Rarity: Swank cufflinks in some styles or designs are extremely rare, while others deals are very common.
Price range (online retail): Wide range of prices, from under $5 to over $500, depending on style and materials used. Particularly iconic cufflinks, such as “Satan” from the mid-1950s or some of the cufflinks from the Arts of the World collection demand the highest price, with original boxes having a major influence on value.
Hallmarks (typical, atypical, suspected): Typically all Swank cufflinks are marked, either on the back of the face or inside the shaft. Two marks are most common; “SWANK” or a “S” inside a shield shape. Some sets have been tentatively attributed to Swank based on diligent study of old ads yet are found unmarked. Attribution for those sets as being by Swank is conjectural but strong.
“Collections / references”: Beginning as early as the 1930s, Swank began marketing ‘collections'. By the mid-1950s, they were making focusing more on ‘collections' in advertising, with collections having different price ranges. The “Designer's Collection” of the mid-1950s was relatively low, while the “Arts of the World Collection” was relatively high for items not made of sterling or gold. Some of the named collections are:
Africana – mid-1950s
Designer's Collection – mid-1950s (lower priced)
Grand Prix – mid-1950s (somewhat more expensive)
Fashion Tones – mid-1950s
Linkwoods – mid-1950s
Arts of the World – late 1950s to early 1960s
Collezione Contintale – c. 1960
Cameo Collection -
Royal Copenhaugen – c. 1970


Frame Types: toggle, (thick shaft or flat shaft), whale back, button back, bean back, bridge back, chain, spool, barbell, yoyo, shirt button, spring shirt button
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 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 looking into the stone). Wear may be more visible, and there may be light chipping. Fair/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.
OTHER NOTES ON LISTING:
The rankings for rarity and condition are based on my personal experience and opinions, and are not to be implied a representation of future value or of resale value.