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Some Special Interests => Heraldry Crests and Coats of Arms => Topic started by: Turner43 on Saturday 17 October 15 02:59 BST (UK)

Title: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: Turner43 on Saturday 17 October 15 02:59 BST (UK)
My husband inherited a pair of cufflinks from his grandfather on his mother's side. ( I will try to attach a photo).  We believe the crest on one side with the hand holding a scimitar could be from Martin of Lockynge, but we cannot find a family link to this family.   The other image is a mystery, and of the set of 2 cufflinks, this image only appears on one set, whereas the hand with scimitar appears on each set.  There is a family story that the family is related to MacDonald of Clan Ranald, but again there is no proof.

Any ideas gratefully received  :)

Linda
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 17 October 15 08:11 BST (UK)
Looking online for crests (NOT coats-of-arms) of a naked arm holding a scimitar, comes up with:

GARNEYS of Kenton, Suffolk
"An cubit arm erased Argent holding in the hand a scimitar argent"
(From A Dictionary of Suffolk Crests: Heraldic Crests of Suffolk Families, by Joan Corder and John Batchly)


There is also a Scottish Law report, stating that a MacRae family had a crest of a cubit arm holding a scimitar. (Heraldry in Scotland, by J.H. Stevenson. available on Google books)


Encyclopedia Heraldica, by William Berry also reports:
Ainslie family of Great Torrington, Lincoln
Crest: a dexter hand and arm, grasping a scimitar ppr

Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: Turner43 on Sunday 18 October 15 03:11 BST (UK)
Thanks for the reply KGarrad

Perhaps I should have mentioned that my husband's grandfather had the surname of Martin - hence the idea of the link to the Martin's of Lockynge.  However, I'll keep your information in mind and try to find a link to either of the families mentioned.

The second cufflink is also a mystery.

Regards,
Linda
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: a chesters on Sunday 18 October 15 06:15 BST (UK)
To me, the second one has the look of a headpiece similar to a bishops mitre.

I turned it through 180 degrees, and that is what it reminds me of. I do not say that is what it represents, just that it looks like to me.

A Chesters
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: Ruskie on Sunday 18 October 15 06:19 BST (UK)
Big initial M and smaller R in the centre of it, plus other difficult to determine images - representations of animals perhaps?  :-\
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: Turner43 on Sunday 18 October 15 08:14 BST (UK)

If the second image is (partly) the initials M and R this could be because my husband's Martin grandfather had the middle name of Ranald.   

The idea of a Bishop's Mitre is also interesting.  There seems to be a star at the bottom of the possible 'M' - why have that if it's just an initial?

Thanks to A Chesters and Ruskie :)

Any more ideas out there?

Linda

Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: whiteout7 on Sunday 18 October 15 10:13 BST (UK)
McGeough?

Arm embowed with scimitar? Looks similar too! Even the rope bits at the bottom. Irish origin though

http://www.myfamilysilver.com/pages/crestfinder-crest.aspx?id=158557&name=Mcgeough

Kennedy?
http://the-red-thread.net/genealogy/kennedy.html
(like the McDonalds, Robert the Bruce supporters)
((Could the second cufflink be depicting  a Kennedy dolphin, with a waterspout to make a M and an R?))
(((Have you found a Kennedy in your tree?)))
*Now my imagination is getting the better of me*


Arm positions
http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/heraldry/charges/humans.html
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 18 October 15 10:37 BST (UK)
McGeough?

Arm embowed with scimitar? Looks similar too! Even the rope bits at the bottom. Irish origin though

The "rope bits" is the torse.
Every coat-of-arms consists of a shield, on which sits a helm, on which sits the crest.
The crest is always depicted sitting on a base of twisted cloth - the torse.

The torse is usually 2 bits of cloth, of different colours. And normally the 2 major colours of the shield.


Good finds, though! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: behindthefrogs on Sunday 18 October 15 12:06 BST (UK)
Fairbairns' Crests lists some thirty names of families that use the scimitar crest.  This list includes the name Martin.  However it does not identify a specific branch of the family although a number of specific people are associated with a similar crest that just uses the lower arm truncated below the elbow. 
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: whiteout7 on Sunday 18 October 15 19:21 BST (UK)
Good point like

Martin of Upton Grey, Odiham, Hants an  arm Dexter, brandishing a Scimitar

https://archive.org/stream/fairbairnsbookof01fair#page/378/mode/2up

My Heraldy book shows the arm on the cufflink as embowed though not Dexter.

http://www.myfamilysilver.com/crestfinder-search/martin-family-crest
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: Turner43 on Tuesday 20 October 15 07:21 BST (UK)
Thanks to all.   As a matter of interest, the posting by Whiteout7 suggests Martin of Upton Grey, which is, in fact, the same line as Martin of Lockynge.  Descendants of Sir Henry Martin, first Baronet, of Lockynge bought the house at Upton Grey Nr. Odiham.

I've discovered some tiny hallmarks on the back of the cufflinks.  I plan to take them to a local jeweller to ask if they can get a date range as this would help pinpoint who had them made.   Although we think they came from my husband's grandfather, they could be older than that.
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: KGarrad on Tuesday 20 October 15 07:24 BST (UK)
The date letter (part of the hallmarks) would confirm when they were assayed.
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: Ruskie on Tuesday 20 October 15 13:01 BST (UK)
I think you might find hallmarks online actually.  :) Can you get a good macro photo of them? If so, post them here and someone may be able to help you.
Title: Re: Engraved cufflinks
Post by: Turner43 on Thursday 22 October 15 03:08 BST (UK)
I'm not able to get a photo of the hallmarks, but got the cufflinks cleaned at a local jeweller.   Now it's easier to see the marks, but still difficult.   From the left it's a crown, followed by the number 18, then an anchor on its side, and then the letter V. 

The maker's mark looks like D preceded by another letter.   
I've had a look online and this could be Arthur Downing Ltd. of Birmingham (the anchor), and A.D. was their mark for the 1st qtr. 20th C - i.e. 1920 (from the letter V).

So this time would fit with my husband's grandfather, who would have been 45 at the time - perhaps a gift from his wife?  His own father was dead by this time.

Thanks everyone for suggestions and comments.