Enrique Ledesma, one of the Mexican master silversmiths, is best known for beautiful designs that show the finest technique of matching silver and stone. The bracelet shown here is illustrated on page 184 of Mexican Silver by Berk/Morrill. The links are
1 1/4"L x 1/2" W. The bracelet is 7" long. Excellent condition. Signed Ledesma.
This early necklace (ca. 1950) by Frank Patania Sr. (1899-1964), is the essence of simple elegance. The reknowned Italian jewellry designer who settled in the U.S. at a young age, achieved great recognition for his superb craft and design skills, and blending of European and Native American esthetics. This design is a series of graduated, raised, rectangular segments, separated by rope-twist links on an adjustable chain. There are seven segments, overall length of 15", plus an extender of 1 1/4". Information about Frank Patania can be viewed at www.modernsilver.com. This necklace, not unlike a number of earlier pieces, has Patania's thunderbird hallmark, but not his FP stamp. Excellent condition.
To the collector of Mexican silver, this vintage 50's bracelet, crafted of 970 silver, resembles in every way, the work of Antonio Pineda. The hallmarks, however, do not bear this out. In design, construction and elegance, one might conclude that it was quite possibly made by someone who worked in his taller. It is a heavy 130 grams, 7"L x 1"W,set with eight opals and eight pearls. Excellent condition.
A rare and stunning, silver gilt, 1950's necklace by the Master Mexican silversmith Antonio Pineda, set with moonstones in beautifully defined links of 970 silver . Note the construction of the links and joining on the reverse image. This necklace weighs 110 grams and measures 16"L by 3/4"W. Excellent condition. Bears all the pertinent hallmarks of the maker and period.
This exceptional Zuni cuff dates to the 40s/50s, and consists of four rows of high grade, hand cut turquoise, fifty-two in all,
set in serrated bezels, on a split band silver bracelet, with fine stamping. It bears the initials EA, which I have not been able to identify. 5 3/4" with a 1 1/4" opening; 2" wide. Excellent condition.
Rafael Dominguez (1911-1980)was a master silversmith who worked briefly in the Spratling workshop, before opening his own business with his wife Jeannette in 1943. This necklace consists of dark oval and teardrop cabochon amethysts, framed by a rope edging. The ovals are 7/8"x1/2", and the teardrops 3/4". Overall length: 16". It bears Dominguez' block letter hallmark and 980 for the silver content. Excellent condition.
Crafted of 970 silver, this Antonio Pineda modernist ring consists of four vertical, rounded amethyst bars, set in a heavy silver
band. Dating to the 50's, it has all the appropriate hallmarks of the vintage, and is
1/2"W in front, tapering towards back, for a size 8 finger. Excellent condition.
This ca. 1940's knifewing dancer pin, shows excellent silversmithing techniques as well as a tight stone-to-stone fitting in a serrated bezel of the mosaic, made of onyx, mother-of-pearl, turquoise and abalone shell. Mounted on a silver back and framed with silver beading and twisted wire. Excellent condition. 2 1/8" x 2".
This heavy ring, ca.1950-55, by Spratling, is fashioned around an eye motif, with an inset onyx eye. The stamp corresponds to the given vintage, but does not have an eagle stamp, most probably due to the resizing of the ring at some point. Size 7 1/2, very good condition.
