What your cufflinks say about you
Words: Hamish Roy
“Caress the detail, the divine detail” – so said writer Vladimir Nabokov. Clearly, Nabokov wasn’t talking about cufflinks, but the wisdom is universally applicable. Consideration should always be given to detail, both in perceiving and supplying it. Take, for example, a man’s suit. The choice of material, the cut, the width of the lapel – they all say something important, as does his choice of shirt and tie. Together, these work towards a sartorial expression of himself. But although suits can vary drastically, the essence is always the same. It is in the finer details, such as cufflinks, that he can disclose a little more. Choose poorly, and you will begin to look like a man disposed to the gaudy or the kitsch. But with a little care and consideration, they offer a chance to convey your artistic affinities, your passions, your values; they are, in fact, an opportunity for a little persona cultivation.
A fourth generation Zimbabwean, master sculptor Patrick Mavros is described as an incurable storyteller. Drawn to wildlife since boyhood, the young Mavros was fascinated by their forms, filling pages of notebooks with drawings. After working first as a baker, then a soldier, it was meeting his wife Catja that would finally set him on the path towards sculpting. Years later, each silver rendition continues to tell a story of the subjects that fixate him.
Choosing a pair of cufflinks, it is you that assumes the mantle of storyteller. The lion, striding boldly across your shirt cuff, will be interpreted differently from the turtle. An apex predator, the lion is a fairly overt symbol of strength. The turtle, on the other hand, is more commonly associated with longevity, endurance and persistence. Only one question remains: what do you want to draw their gaze?
Here are 4 of our favourites:
The King of the Beasts. These cufflinks are a slightly more modern depiction of this big cat, their posture and strength of character perfectly captured.
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