Aces (unmarked), Key (Hickok), Yeoman Warder (unmarked), Griffin (Swank), Apollo (unmarked), Horses (unmarked), Hunting Dog (Hickok), Paris Scenes (Hickok), Rooster and Keyhole Crest (Swank)

My love for Mid Century ceramics has not been my only detour to the era. In a prior life, and long before I collected ceramics, I wore cufflinks to work. This wasn’t natural, by any means; like most men, I viewed shirts under suits as simple garments in two colors (solid white and blue) with button cuffs — period. I then had the good fortune to work extensively with someone who had real style — a man who had his suits made, knew how to mix patterned or striped shirts with the right ties, and always wore French cuffs. It was only after his many admonitions of, “What are you afraid of?” that I took myself more seriously and started buying much better shirts, to include those with French cuffs. Needing cufflinks, I turned to the internet and voila! Mid Century to the rescue. I no longer wear dress shirts on a daily basis (and don’t miss ties much), but I do miss these cufflinks. Depending on my mood, they made me feel lucky, wealthier then I was, better looking than I was, or just plain cosmopolitan when I wore them. Not a bad return for a small piece of metal made 60 years ago…