Silver Cufflinks, 1940s Mexico, retailer Cultural Stereotype Alert!

Cultural stereotype alert!

These heavy, hunky cufflinks are hand-made works of art. Likely crafted in 1940s Mexico, each features an amorphous hammered shape, which frames polished silver silhouettes of a blanketed figure in a large sombrero under a cactus tree.

Yes, you've seen this image before. And, though it feels woefully out of date and culturally insensitive, it is apparently still embraced by at least a portion of Mexican-Americans.

In any case, the handiwork on these vintage cufflinks is impressive; we especially appreciate the darker, hammered background, which also appears on the textured toggle clasps. The posts are attached to the faces with a tiny hinge, so that they can be "folded" after being attached retailer to a cuff.

Each cufflink is marked on the back with a silversmith's stamp that we find impossible to read, although a partial MEX can be seen. There is no number to indicate a percentage of pure silver, but these old Mexican pieces are usually made of silver that is more pure than sterling, with a number higher than .925. What's more, together these beauties weigh a full 1.04 ounces!