It’s been a while since I offered an example of Margot de Taxco’s zodiac jewelry and I am thrilled to be presenting this substantial Gemini pendant necklace here. Zodiac jewelry were popular with many Mexican maestros yet in my opinion, Margot’s creations surpass those of all her contemporaries. Sculptural, big and bold, they can be found as charms to be coupled with chain necklaces and enjoyed as pendants, like here, or dangling off the substantial bracelets she designed for that purpose...

An astonishing Los Ballesteros Mexican silver modernist bracelet in the type of hinged bangles the workshop excelled in producing, this is a design I have never encountered before and it is literally "crowned" by the hugest quartz gem ever! The gem's color is the smokiest, deepest "whiskey" - one can feel oneself sinking in its alluring depths yet still not be able to take one's eyes off it...

Circa 1930's-1940's, here is a spectacular pectoral necklace produced in Taxco, Mexico by noted silversmith MS in 940 silver.

The center portion measures 4" wide, and 3" from the top end to the bottom center.

It's a glorious design, beautifully hand-wrought and exquisitely detailed, with a flower pot and winding flowers with leaves. The side links are also leaves, and the closure s a hook and eye type...

Circa 1930's - early 40's, this amethyst ring is the work of Fred Davis. It's a spectacular piece with a large domed amethyst cabochon set between opposing "V's". This ring is adjustable, currently a size 6.5. The face of the ring measures 1 5/16" x 1 1/8". Weight is 16.7 grams. Signed and hallmarked with a conjoined FD and Silver Mexico. In excellent vintage condition. Amethyst has natural inclusions and quartz marbling.

What a rare Mexican silver jewel this is with bright colors that flash in this large Cantera Fire Opal. The amount of time to decorate the hand made chain with hearts, plus the engraving is truly a work of love. In addition the locket is framed with another heart that the locket hangs from. Signed RAF eagle 28 who is noted in Bille Hougarts THE LITTLE BOOK OF MEXICAN SILVER TRADE AND HALLMARKS. No dents or damage of any kind and the locket shuts tight. The height of the locket is 2in...

This is an incredibly rare Los Castillo early brooch numbered 169. The azurmalachite is 5/8th's inch long and the entire length of the pin is 3 inches. The width is 2inches. Properly hallmarked as shown and in perfect condition with a weight of 20.3 grams. This brooch is a show stopper. The side view picture shows the depth of the repousse. FABULOUS FABULOUS FABULOUS

In all these years now I have never listed an attribution to any listing. For this special old piece I am making an attribution for the first time and to SR. Guadalupe Castellanos. This figure is from the glyphs off the pyramids. This figure is also similar on other pyramids around the world. The date of manufacture could possibly be as early as 1913. It was rare to put signatures on any silver in these early days and this is marked with only STERLING and not even with Mexico. Sr...

This sleek, modernist and eye catching brooch was designed in the 1940-50's by artist Valentin Vidauretta during his time at Hector Aguilar's Taller Borda in Taxco, Mexico. Signed Valentin jewelry designs rarely turn up. The pin measures 2 1/4" across X 1 1/4" high. Both stones & silver are in beautiful condition as is the pin back and safety lock. A Valentin bracelet of similar design is pictured on p. 113 of MEXICAN SILVER, 4th edition by Penny Morrill...

Beautifully detailed 940 sterling silver & azurite Sun brooch designed & signed by Taxco, Mexico artist Hector Aguilar(1905-86). The pin measures 2" X 2". Pictured on p.103 of Mexican Silver by Penny Morrill & Carole Berk. Morrill states that this design was inspired by the Pre-Columbian clay seal representing the sun. Excellent condition & patina. Pin back & safety catch in perfect working order. Hallmarked on the reverse. P...

Sculptural rosewood and sterling silver object c. 1951 signed by American and Taxco, Mexican artist William Spratling (1900-67). The design measures 3 1/4" tall and features 3 silver rings that move or spin around the base. Signed on the reverse with the rare SPRATLING OF MEXICO hallmark used for only 1 year (1951). The piece is in beautiful condition...

In 1952 award winning Sigi Pineda opened his own shop in Taxco. These pieces marked and numbered Plateros (enough of the mark is there for easy identification) are some of his best designs. This rare marking did not last long as he soon changed the name of his shop to Sigi. The drop is 4 inches across and 3.25 inches tall from the sides. The pectoral takes sweeps and swirls so it is measured with the highest point. The entire necklace is hand chased. The silver is thick and masterful weighing 76...

Spratling designed this quite rare AZTEC MASK pin in the 1930's. The pin measures 3 inches across X 1 1/4 inches high & weighs 20 grams. The WS hallmarks on the pin date the piece to the 1930's. In the 1940's Spratling added additional elements to this design as pictured on Phyllis Goddards' site spratlingsilver.com. Please see the photo of the later design from Goddard's site for comparison. The piece is in great condition. The safety on the pin back is in fine working order.

This is a grand Mexico City early repousse necklace that is 19in. long with veined leaves moving around the neckline. The central drop is 2.75in. across and is built in layers that build to the large amethyst stone in the center. The stone is without damage or chips. There is glare in some pictures on the stone. Please look at all pictures. The leaves measure 2in. long. Marked as shown with silver Mexico this workmanship is from the same folk background that Matilde Poulat made so famous. This i...

Playful and fun this detailed pair of silver cufflinks was designed and signed c.1940's by Taxco, Mexico artist William Spratling. Each frog measures 3/4" long. Spratling employed frogs in many designs including bracelets, necklaces, spoons and serving pieces. The links are in beautiful condition with excellent patina and fully hallmarked.

One of Enrique Ledesma's signature designs, the necklace at hand is a must-have for the collector because of the rare color agate used to complete the trapezoid links. Most frequently found with black onyx, obsidian and green stones (chrysocolla or chrysoprase) this is an ode to "less-is-more" necklace and to come upon an example with this rich, reddish brown agate is a real treat. Perfectly cut - after all, Ledesma was one of Taxco's best lapidaries - the stone is cool and smooth to the touch, ...

Vintage hand forged sterling silver and azur malachite mosaic pin or brooch designed and signed circa 1950 by American & Taxco, Mexico artist William Spratling (1900-67). Pin measures 1 1/2" X 1 1/4". Beautiful condition. Pin back and lock are tight and secure. Pictured on Phyllis Goddards informative website spratlingsilver.com. Spratling's designs are the central focus of the permanent 20th Century Mexican silver collection at Los Angeles County Museum of Art -LACMA.

An early Mexico City (I will suggest) maestro, P. Ochoa must have been a contemporary of Matilde Poulat’s and M. Velazquez’s. His work, wrought in the same “Mexico City” style of repoussage which for me represents the country’s Arts and Crafts version in jewelry-making, is very rare to come upon but, I think, of the highest quality. All of this pieces that I have seen over the years seemed to revolve around the “ancient mask” theme - in our case, in the smaller, “masquette” ver...

The Los Castillo 653 cuff is a modernist jewel perfect for career wear for the best dressed. The dimensions are: Back gap 1 inch. Height is also 1 inch. Weight is a thick solid 53 grams. Inside diameter is 2.25 inches and can be professionally sized. There is lovely darkness in the circular recesses and some patina to the rest of the piece. No dents and rounds the wrist beautifully.

Unique and very rare is this Los Castillo 419 brooch with a built in triple bead necklace when attached to a collar. The swirl medallions disconnect (with an old spring ring push pin) so you can wear just the medallion brooches if desired. The medallions are thick and heavy repousse at 47 grams. Their length is 2in. x 1.25in. wide. The largest bead on the drop is 14mm. When laid straight the brooch is 7.75in. long. This treasure has been handled with love and is without damage.

A superb giant brooch hallmarked Matl Salas MS-12. It is equipped to hang as a pendant also but I use these large brooches to put shawls or other open duster designs together so as not to slip or fall off. This is 3in. x 4in. in stature. The repousse is very puffy and deeply carved with skill on the top. The pin is strong and will hold to tapestry weighted fabrics. The patina is naturally dark. No damage or repairs. A beautiful thing...

A true maestro when it comes to combining silver with faceted, brilliant gems Enrique Ledesma is the creator of this modernist Mexican hinged bangle bracelet. Ledesma set three color-change sapphires against a glistening sterling frame here but I have also had one or two similar pieces in which the silver had been oxidized. Held in place with prongs, the stones are open-backed allowing the light to play its luminous games and coax different colors out of the stones. I love the geometry of the br...

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. There is no repairs or damage of any kind and all casa...

In emulation of a Margot de Taxco's design a vintage silver and black enamel necklace signed by Narvaez. I am familiar with the specific maker's Deco jewelry yet I have never seen an enameled piece by him! Based on a difficult to find (at least in my experience) Margot original, I love the sweeping motion of the stylized feathers and their generous size. A stunning piece, it measures a wearable 17 3/4" with its feathers part being 4" wide by 2 1/4" tall (at its tallest). The width at the chai...

Vintage sterling silver pin or brooch designed and signed c.1930-40's by American and Taxco, Mexico artist William Spratling(1900-67). Pin measures 3 1/8" X 1 1/8". The dug out canoe shape is a accented with Aztec elements and 5 half dome bells. Beautiful condition. Signed on the reverse with Spratling's early WS and 980 for silver content. Pin back and lock work perfectly. Spratling designs are featured in the permanent 20th Century Mexican silver collection at Los Angeles County Museum of Art ...

Magnificent and quite rare to find, Sigi Pineda's design 241 is the epitome of modernist elegance and boasts reversible stones - so in actuality, you have two pieces in one! Featuring intense oxidation in the recessed areas which almost looks like cold enamel, the necklace and earrings set can be worn to display either the golden sheen obsidian cabs or the chrysocolla stones. The necklace has an inner circumference of 14 3/4" (wearing almost like a 15") while the earrings are 1 5/16" by 3/4" (...

This beautifully hand forged pin was designed by Mexico City artist Matilde Poulat c. 1930-40's. The pin measures 2" X 2" & weighs 20 grams. Penny Morrill explains on p. 217 of her book MEXICAN SILVER that the horizontal "S" is the symbol of happiness & the cascabeles signify fidelity. The pin is in excellent, unpolished condition. Both the pin back & safety lock are in fine working order. Signed Matl & 925 on reverse. MATL designs are included in the permanent collection of Mexican silver at ...

Big, heavy and bold, the Los Ballesteros “beehive” pendant can be found with “masks” carved in amethyst, dyed calcite, azurite, black onyx and even obsidian yet I have never seen one like the example I am thrilled to be presenting here! Very reminiscent of Old World “moon face” jewelry, the portrait in our case is rendered in a light, lemon-colored stone. On my gem tester the stone registers in the citrine/quartz area and even though I would love to say it is citrine, I will stay on ...

I have said many times in the past that I consider the Los Ballesteros workshop Taxco’s foremost creator of the so-called “mask” jewelry. And among their best are their hinged bangle bracelets, a fantastic example of which I am presenting here. The effigy is carved out of tiger’s eye, a stone which creates a magical sensation with its molten gold, glistening caramel and rich chocolate browns. Serene under its heavy, ornate headdress the “face” looks as if in deep sleep, its features ...

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...

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. The wide looping sterling ri...

Very beautiful and early Fred Davis sterling and Rhodonite ring. This same ring, with an amethyst stone, is featured on page 27 of the 4th edition of the book MEXICAN SILVER by Morrill and Berk. They date it c. 1930. The face of the ring measures 1" wide and 3/4" long and it is a size 6. Weighing 14 grams, it is in fine original condition with no chips or cracks to the stone. Signed as shown. A great addition to a Mexican Silver collection.

This carved rough cut fire opal ring was constructed circa 1950's and is a size 6 1/2. The rectangular stone is 3/4" X 5/8". The stone is set in a silver frame and rises 3/8" high. Hallmarked ANTONIO TAXCO SILVER MADE IN MEXICO. The worn outline of the eagle stamp can be seen. Some surface wear on close inspection. Beautiful colors within seem to dance as the ring moves in the light.

Rare eye catching pair of sterling silver cufflinks designed & signed c. 1949 by Taxco, Mexico artist Valentin Vidauretta (1902-55). Each link measures 1 1/4" across X 3/4". The pair weighs 23 grams. Valentin also designed for Hector Aguilar at Aguilar's Taller Borda as well at Spratling and Antonio Pineda. The links carry Valentin's hallmark along with the eagle 9 assay mark.

This handsome sterling silver box with hand carved malachite stone was designed by Frederick Davis (1880-1961). The hinged box measures 3 1/2" X 3 1/4" X 1 1/2" high and weighs 150 grams. In beautiful condition with no dents or dings. Davis was known to have collected stone artifacts in his travels around Mexico using them in his various silver designs. Hallmarked FD 925 on the bottom of the box.

We are offering a vintage Mexican silver cylinder cut stones with filigree necklace. The stones are very impressive with exceptional colors,no chips or cracks anywhere. Each cylinder with rings is 1.25in. long. The filigree link is thick with each section being 1.25in. The height of the filigree is half an inch at the widest point. This necklace lays beautifully on the neck. The weight is 60 grams heavy with a wearable length of 16.25in. This bears an early eagle one and I date this to the early...

Rare Mexican Deco silver repousse figural necklace, its five graduated links featuring what I believe to be a neo-Aztec interpretation of Cinteotl, one of the three goddesses of corn and fertility. Bare-breasted and kneeling in a corn field, holding in her hands an ear of maize and adorned with earrings and a pendant necklace, it is in fact two different figures that we are looking at; while the bodies and what surrounds them is the same, the jewelry and the faces themselves are different. I hav...