One of the few female designers we know of in Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance and a gifted modernist at that, Erika Hult de Corral created jewelry that attracts the eye and captures one's imagination. I am particularly fond of her "moonscape" designs that touch upon biomorphic brutalism, if you allow me the combination, yet the sense of unimpeded, fluid motion and the abstraction present in this particular bracelet reflect, in my opinion, one of her best moments...

Properly signed Fred Davis bracelet with the lion prancing on both side panels of this treasure. There are 4 turquoise cabachon stones on each side of the oval shaped bracelet. The oval measures 2 3/8th's inches and will fit most. It presents itself with a height of 2 3/8th's and a weight of 116 grams of heft. The stones are without damage, have rock matrix running through it and show a beautiful warmed teal color. There is no damage to the silver and no repairs...

Sometimes I find a superb vintage Mexican Silver necklace that is unsigned as this one is. I believe todays offering is an early 1930's date as signing the work was something that William Spratling really just started in his beginnings in Taxco. The hand chasing shows expert workmanship and each medallion is thick silver and with hand rolled edges. The weight is 79 grams and is 16.25 inches long. Each medallion is with the chain 1 inch tall...

Signed SILVER BY TONO and weighing 79 grams this rare 1948-53 silver cuff was designed by Taxco, Mexico artist Antonio Pineda. The front center of the cuff stands 1 5/8 inches high. Made for a smaller wrist, the interior length including the 1 1/8" back opening is about 6 1/4". The cuff is in beautiful condition with no dents or dings. The gorgeous aged patina enhances the hand forged scroll work and bead design...

Necklace Design 250 by Los Castillo is outstanding repousse that displays great depth, dimension and skill to produce. The silver is heavy at 107 grams. It is rounded so the wearable length is approximately 17in. The large links in the drop is the tiniest fraction below 1.5in. No repairs, dents or damage on this well loved treasure. There is glare that can mislead so look at all the pictures. The patina has grown naturally in my collection for years...

In keeping with the love the 1960s and '70s had for huge, "ethnic" pendants this Los Ballesteros sterling silver sunburst stunner is inspired by ancient Aztec and Maya calendar disks and measures 3.5 in without the bail! Several silversmithing techniques were combined to create the pendant - cutwork, chasing, overlay, oxidation - and right at the center, a crown-set amethyst brings intense color to an otherwise silver and black background...

Last year I was lucky to find three examples of jewelry by Celia Harms, a talented designer who lived and worked in Vera Cruz in the 1950s and '60s. The Etruscan style sterling vermeil cross pin / pendant necklace I am presenting is the last of that trove and a very classy duo as well. I am very particular with vermeil - I don't really like it unless it is old and has mellowed almost to the point of ... extinction yet here it has an understated matte finish that exudes a calm warmth...

Fur pins are not a common find in the field of Mexican silver jewelry collecting yet during my years of buying and selling I have bumped upon a few examples and I can tell you that the best bore the Los Castillo signature - like the one I am presenting here. The "koi fish" is a signature design for the famous workshop yet we all know it was created by Margot de Taxco when she was still married to Antonio Castillo...

Antonio Pineda's iconic Matchstick design is a most coveted piece for all modernist Mexican Silver collectors. The silver is white as it is 970 pure giving it a rich color. The match tips are obsidian and have no chips or damage. It is strung on strong silver cable and properly hallmarked as shown. This masterpiece boasts a wearable length of 18in. The center link is 1.75in. tall and the smallest graduated link is 1in. Lays perfectly on, just LOOK AT THAT NECKLACE!

This is an unusual design in a Matl bracelet properly hallmarked for the early part of Matilde Poulat's career. This treasure is 6.5 in. long and 1.25in. tall. The coral frames the amethyst giving it an elegant presence.The bracelet has a natural patina and has been very well cared for. The amethyst are clear with no damage. The weight is 52 grams.

Absolutely gorgeous is this properly signed for an early Matl by Matilde Poulat. Excellent carving on the birds and a natural dark patina. The amethyst are faceted and show beautiful color as she utilized gem quality stones in the production of her treasures early in her career. The weight is 82 grams of masterful quality. This I would say is of medium size with a drop that spans 5in. across (includes the lead in link) and 3in. tall. Very special, just LOOK AT THAT NECKLACE!

This William Spratling necklace is properly signed as shown with both the Spratling circle and oval. There are 9 rings going around the drop and 5 dangles that are the exact configuration as the Spratling Hallmark site. The weight is 118 grams and with an approximate wearable length of 17 in. The center link drop is 2.5in. across and 2.5in...

An extremely rare Antonio Pineda necklace this modernist beauty I am presenting here is wrought in his favorite fine .970 silver alloy, oxidized in the design's recesses and embellished with ten gorgeous, luminous soft white pearls. Cascading from an elaborate knot that forms the necklace's central station, the pearls rest graciously on the collar bone and they look fantastic against a black background. Shown on p. 147 in "Silver Seduction", the official catalogue for Pineda's retrospective exhi...

Stunning Antonio Pineda Mexican modernist silver and black onyx necklace, this too is wrought in the maestro's favorite fine, .970 alloy in a variation of his "crescents" design. There isn't much one can say about Antonio jewelry, at least not more than a few good photos can say, but let me express my admiration for the magical way he articulates his creations so as to sit perfectly where they should and at the same time showcase the design's sculpturality in the best possible light. I have to a...

Margot de Taxco's des. no 5247 is a modernist "beaded wave" creation and presented here is a set comprised of bracelet and matching clip-on earrings. I will dare say that Margot did not delve too much into modernism but whenever she did it, the results were equally inspired and carefully crafted as the rest of her work. The sculptural quality of the undulating links is matched by the curves of the semi-spheres set within them in a channel that is both pierced and contained by a raised border. Th...

Beautiful and rare vintage sterling pendant/pin on black velvet cord with sterling tips by Mexican Modernist Salvador Teran. It is a wonderful abstract design of overlapping planes. The pendant/pin, including the bail, measures 3 1/4" long and 1 1/8" wide. It is on its original black velvet cord with sterling tips. This cord is 26" end to end. The necklace weighs 40 grams total and all pieces are in excellent original condition. It was perhaps never worn. Signed as shown. A terrific mid-century ...

Vintage Sigi Pineda Mexican silver "peas in a pod" bracelet, this is one of my favorite designs by the Taxco modernist. Wrought in sterling silver the links have been darkened with "metallic black" niello that sets the graduated sphere appliques off in the most dramatic way. The beads have actually been riveted onto the links - not just simply soldered on - and their brushed finish contrasts beautifully with the links' smooth surface. Sigi Pineda was a prolific designer and this bracelet is one ...

Bearing a combination of hallmarks that dates it around 1939 this William Spratling ring is wrought in high purity .980 silver and has developed the most amazing patina during its long and - I am sure - happy life. According to Goddard, Spratling used to refer to this design as the "crowned pyramid", an appellation that makes more sense if one looks at the matching bracelet from above as it lays on a flat surface. Not an over-complicated design, it does, however, gain sculpturality and substanti...