Tiffany & Co. Lapis Lazuli and Gold Dress-Set, Circa 1970

A Tiffany & Co. lapis lazuli and gold dress-set, with lapis lazuli, four hole "buttons", with twisted wire "thread", with gold surrounds, signed Tiffany & Co. The cufflinks have twisted gold bar fittings, stamped 18K, with inventory number 11722. The three collar studs have sprung, sliding fittings, stamped 18, with inventory number 3076. The dress-set fittings are marked with the Larter trade mark, circa 1970.
 
Larter & Sons, established in 1865 as Davis & Elcox, in Newark, New Jersey, USA. From 1870 to 1873 the company traded as Elcox & Barnet, when William H. Barnet became a partner. The firm was trading as Henry Elcox & Co., in Maiden Lane, New York, from 1873 to 1890. Henry Elcox was in partnership with his brother-in-law, Frederick H. Larter and Horace Bedell. The manufacturing was managed by Elcox and business by Larter. Elcox died in 1890. From 1890 to 1895 the company was called Larter, Elcox & Co., with with Larter, his sister Mrs. A. Elcox, Henry's widow, William Jones and Theo. M. Woodland as partners. Jones and Woodland later left to become Jones & Woodland, in Newark. The company was joined by William D. Elcox, Harry C. Larter and Halsey M. Larter, sons of the senior partners. In 1905 Larter & Sons bought out the interests of the Elcox family. Around 1918-1919 they took over Barry & company, a general jewellery company and at one time a subsidiary firm. Although Larter & Sons had started as a ring manufacturer they branched out into other lines of jewellery, until they specialised in gentleman's jewellery, producing 10, 14 and 18 carat gold and platinum shirt studs, waistcoat buttons, link buttons, bar buttons, signet rings, stone rings, pocket knives, mountings with 14ct gold sides, lockets, 14ct gold clasps, 14ct gold circla brooches, 14ct gold brooches and 10ct gold bar pins. The mark of their patented fitting can be seen on many fine American cufflinks.
From "American Jewelry Manufacturers", by Dorothy T. Rainwater.