• Born: 1837, Providence RI
• Died: 26 May 1909

  General notes:

Jeweler and manufacturer

  Events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1870 census taken at Providence RI, listed as a jewelry worker.

• He appeared on the 1880 census taken at Providence RI, listed as a jewelry worker.

• He was issued design patent number 247,019 on 13 Sep 1881
  
  ROBERT S. CUTTING, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.
  
  BREASTPIN, &c.
  
  SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,019, dated September 13, 1881.
  Application filed August 10,1880.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Robert S. Cutting, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breastpins and other Jewelry; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.
  This invention has reference to that class of jewelry in which feathers, velvet, or silk, ornamented by embroidery or painting, is secured in an ornamental frame, to form the face of a pin or other piece of jewelry.
  The invention consists in certain improvements in the construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter described and claimed.
  Figure 1 is a front view of a piece of jewelry, in the central panel of which feathers, silk, satin, or other similar material is inserted, the color of which may be in harmony or form an agreeable contrast with the dress of the wearer. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the pin or jewel. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 represents one method of securing the back by means of projections and a latch or turn-button. Fig. 5 represents a back secured by means of a swiveled bar; and Fig. 6 represents a back that can be inserted and secured by a turn-button, which back may be made solid or provided with a hinge.
  When feathers or similar materials are to form the main portion of jewelry it is desirable to insert the same from the rear, so that the ends of the leathers or the edges of the material will extend under and lie against the metal of the border. In doing this two difficulties are encountered.
  The usual form of jewelry makes it difficult to secure the back to the front by means of a hinge and snap, as is usual in lockets, and the nature of the material used to fill the central panel is such that the back cannot be soldered to the front, as the heat would injure or destroy the feathers or similar material.
  In the drawings, a represents the front border, within which the filling b of feathers or similar material is secured, c is the rear border, to which the pin for fastening the ornament is secured. This border c is provided with projections f to aid in retaining the back piece in position.
  d represents a detachable back, provided with projections g, extending under the border e, and secured by a turn-button, e; or a bar, e', may be used to secure the back-plate.
  By thus providing a detachable back-plate filling-pieces b,, fitting into the panel and made of different materials or differing in color, may be sold with a set of jewelry, and these may be readily exchanged one for another, so as to produce a variety of effects corresponding with or in contrast with the color of the dress of the wearer.
  Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent—
  A breastpin or other article of jewelry having the retaining rim or borders, the rear border, c, having projections f, removable back d, having projections g to engage with the under side of the border c, and the turn button or bar for holding said removable back in position, substantially as shown and described.
  
  R. S. CUTTING
  
  Witnesses:
  Joseph A. Miller
  J. A. Miller, Jr.