What period do most antique cufflinks come from?

The 1930s, by a wide margin. Of 212 listings, 83 are placed in that decade, more than the 1920s, 1940s and 1950s combined. The dealer date field spans 1860 to 1960 overall, and 180 listings carry a clean year. The 1960s form the second largest block at 30.

Are antique cufflinks usually gold?

Gold appears in 113 of the titles, so it is the metal you meet most. 9ct leads it with 62 titles, then 18ct with 21, and there are scattered 15ct, 14ct and 10ct pairs. Silver and silver-gilt make a smaller group of around 35 titles. Below both sit rolled gold, gold plate and chrome.

Why is Art Deco enamel so common in this category?

It is the single most repeated thing in the archive. 'Art deco' shows in 92 titles and 'enamel' in 64, and the two overlap constantly on geometric fronts of about 1930. Sub-labels within that group include skyscraper patterns, guilloche grounds and green-and-black colour pairings. Nineteen titles use 'modernist' for the starkest of them.

Which assay offices appear on hallmarked pairs?

Birmingham and Chester, almost to the exclusion of anything else. Birmingham is named in 15 titles and Chester in several more, with dates running from 1871 through to the 1960s. London turns up only on a couple of the top-of-range pieces.

Do cufflinks come with matching studs?

Some do. Several listings pair the links with shirt or collar studs as a dress set, and 13 arrive in a box. Most are sold as a pair on their own, with 58 titles using the word pair and 26 specifying matching.

Are novelty and sporting designs found in this category?

Yes, scattered through it, perhaps one listing in fifteen. Golfers, racing subjects, cockerels, regimental and lodge designs all appear. Several oddities show once and never again: cabochon glass terrier and Scottie dogs, an Austin Mini, silver dumbbells, expanding chrome links, a Victorian micro mosaic Grand Tour pair and half sovereigns mounted as links.