The presence is big with this Aguilar design. Each link is woven into a tied bow with thick, dimensional, ribbons of silver. Really beautiful natural patina Each is hand chased and finished with a dimpled dot in the center which is iconic in his use. 18 inches long and 7/8th of an inch tall of quality workmanship. 125 grams with no damage or repairs. Take this jewel anywhere, just LOOK AT THAT NECKLACE!

The quintessential Art Deco designer, Abraham Paz is one of the earliest maestros of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance. He worked in Mexico City and many of the designs we associate with Fred Davis are actually Paz's creations. His minimalist "masks", shield-form links and tiered ring settings epitomize the elegant geometry the 1920s and 1930s are known for while also foreshadowing the less-is-more attitude of modernism...

Piedra y Plata was the name of Felipe Martinez's taller. He was known for his incredible stone work. He sourced gorgeous stones for his treasures he produced and I believe the stones here are Chrysocolla. They have natural matrix running through out. This bracelet is 7 inches long and 1 inch tall. The patina is rich and natural. With a weight of 50 grams of thick silver Martinez has produced a tasteful,streamline size full of details. There is no damage...

Big and beautifully aged this floral sterling silver Hector Aguilar brooch is representative of the 1940s' love affair with all motifs from nature. The flower is here layered, with deep hand-chased details in the petals and foliage, a strong curving stem and cluster of small beads right at its center. I love the way the bloom is wide open, its face turned to the sun, taking in light and heat and turning it to color, aromas and beauty for our visual enjoyment...

When it comes to impressive pendant necklaces with a distinct "ethnic" twist, the Los Ballesteros signature is what one has to look for within the field of vintage Mexican silver. Their designs are amazing not just for their proportions but also for their quality of materials and impeccable craftsmanship. This sunburst example with color-change sapphire (synthetic corundum) hanging off the hand-made sterling chain of the same vintage I have had several times in the past but I never tire of it...

Fred Davis signed shields is an iconic design with this one being the largest size at 1.25 inches tall with most of that height being big stones. Eighteen inches of length provide a roomy fit. The weight is 166 grams of quality. This design is published in the books by Penny Morrill on Mexican Silver. The condition is without damage or repairs. Please note that the pictures are reflecting glare on the stones. There are no striations that come to the surface...

We are offering today an early example of Mexico City Folk art that displays an original design signed JGD. The turquoise is of desirable colors. The amethyst glows with color and the center stones are rare faceted cuts. The wearable length is a comfortable 17 inches. With a width of 1.75 inches and a weight of 180 grams there is a stunning presence. I can not do justice with my photographs of how beautiful this treasure is, just LOOK AT THAT NECKLACE!

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...

One of the most inspired Taxco modernists, Enrique Ledesma is not widely known as an enamelist yet he did create jewelry combining sterling with bright colored enamels. It seems that those pieces are rare and difficult to find but if one is lucky enough to come upon an example, the search is justified and the seeker duly rewarded! The necklace at hand, distinctly "machine age" in its constituting elements, breaks free of its functionalist constraints with the use of brilliant blue enamel...

Offered on consignment, this mid-century Antonio Pineda bracelet is a spectacular showpiece which pulls out all the stops. Diamond shaped onyx stones and silver panels alternate in this geometric modernist design. It's a substantial luxurious piece which looks and feels fabulous on the wrist. A rarely seen design, and collector quality. One of the most exquisite Antonio pieces I've come across...

Valentin Vidaurreta is one of the “giants” in Mexico’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance. And even though to most his name does not resonate in the way Spratling’s or Aguilar’s or Antonio’s does, his incredible talent and sublime craftsmanship is behind many of the designs we know, admire and covet as creations of those “big names”. The hummingbird brooch at hand is just one of those examples...

An iconic design for Salvador Teran, the "moon and star" looks as if it floated out of our childhood dreams, out of that world where there are no sharp edges and everything has a reassuring face. Yet it is also one of the most recognizable creations in Taxco's modernist design index. I love the cartoonish cut-outs, the darkness of the nocturnal sky, the way the moon curves over the little star as if to tuck it in for the night. Measuring 1 1/4" by 1" the earrings weigh 19.2 grams (for the set)an...

I look at this Sigi Pineda brooch and I see pine trees frosted with snow, dancing to the tunes of cold winter winds in a Nordic forest. I am sure that others out there will see something else - and this is the magic of minimalist, abstract design; the magic of Sigi when he is truly inspired. I will not say much more hoping that my photos will help illustrate your dreamscapes but will add that the brooch is 2" tall by 1 1/8" at its widest and weighs 8.5 grams. It is fully signed with Sigi's signa...

Zodiac jewelry is not uncommon in the field of vintage Mexican silver yet it is mostly bracelets (charm or link), pins and combination pin/pendants that one finds. Rings, and especially sculptural ones like the example at hand, are rare and I am thrilled to have discovered it! Applied on a round flat field, the kneeling figure of Aquarius faces the onlooker, water flowing out of the urn under her arm (I know Aquarius is supposed to be male but the more I look at this ring, the more I see a femal...

Eagle 22, one of the assay marks used by Fred Davis, is stamped on the bracelet at hand and its design combined with the fact that Davis was not at all meticulous at signing his pieces makes me believe that we might as well be dealing here with one of this creations. The carved amethyst "masks" are rendered in the most minimalist manner, a classic Abraham Paz / Fred Davis characteristic. For me, they also bring to mind ancient Cycladic art yet they were made thousands of years later in a totally...

Probably my favorite among the Taxco modernists, Salvador Teran has that magic touch which allows him to draw a perfectly "readable" picture with the least amount of strokes. His work is inspired and his ability to deal with different materials and always create wearable pieces of art is simply unbelievable. In this set of abstract earrings my eyes see the figures of two birds. They are so abstract, as if made of air and movement, but I look at them and I can almost hear them fluttering above my...

Navajo Kenneth Begay has been called the "father of modern Navajo jewelry". From 1946-1964, he worked as a benchsmith at the White Hogan Shop in Scottsdale, Az. This elegant, precise bracelet measures 5 1/2" around in the inside plus an additional 1 1/4" opening. It is 1/4" wide and weighs 30 grams. All original, fine condition and signed as shown in the photos. Gorgeous alone or perfect for stacking.

The links in this Deco Mexican silver necklace by Victoria , to the world Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti, are inspired by cactus flowers and hand-wrought in sterling silver sheet with good thickness. One of my favorite designs by her, it was available in at least two different widths and the example at hand is the narrower, easier to wear version no matter what the occasion or the ... weather is. Deeply chased and oxidized lines form the stylized petals and each flower is centered by five tiny litt...

It's almost the middle of August but this vintage Antonio Pineda brooch makes me think of leaves twirling in the wind filling the world with the fiery golds and reds of Fall. It is characteristic of the design genius inherent in some maestros that they can take a simple, familiar form and put such a twist to it (in our case literally), the form turns into a little work of art. This is a very sculptural brooch, the sense of motion it holds within it strong, its patina to die for. Real beauty does...

Sometimes things just fall into your lap unexpectedly and this is what happened with the two Antonio Pineda brooches I am listing today. First up a fun (albeit ... smelly in real life, if you are not careful) figural brooch glorifying our beloved skunk! At least, I think it's a skunk and I wish I had a more noble name for the creature. Such an unusual, tongue-in-cheek design for Antonio who is seriously modernist and quite heavy at times. Nice overlay, deep oxidation, almost out of a cartoon yet...

Measuring 4 inches high & 3 1/2" across this impressive hand wrought sterling silver & bronze brooch was designed & signed in the 1940's by Taxco, Mexico artist William Spratling (1900-67). The detailed repousse' work is exquisite & the condition excellent. The piece weighs 57 grams and is fully hallmarked. The pin back & safety are in fine working order. Pictured on the cover of the 4th edition of MEXICAN SILVER by Penny Morrill & Carole Berk and on Phyllis Goddard's site spratlingsilver.com. T...

Featured in Spratling's 1942 Christmas catalogue this silver I.D. bracelet was hand crafted at the Spratling Taller in Taxco, Mexico. The design features a slide-in tongue closure. Weighing 57 grams it is 1/2" wide and will fit up to a 7 1/2" wrist. The bracelet was never monogramed. The condition and patina are excellent. Fully hallmarked on the reverse.

As rare-as-can-be not just for its signature but also for the black opal baguettes it showcases, this vintage Mexican silver architectural ring was created by Carmen Beckmann. Beckmann is reported in the literature to have worked primarily in the 1950s and 1960s in San Miguel de Allende and her jewelry can vary from inspired to simply good. When she was at her most creative though, she made pieces that are to die for! This ring is, in my opinion, one of those moments of hers. It's as if its star...

Slick, less-is-more design and a beautifully carved amethyst "mask" make this vintage 1950s Mexican sterling silver ring easy to wear and a real treat for the eye! There is something masculine about the simplicity of the ring itself that is, however, tempered by the delicately soft, slender features of the stone "face". The amethyst is here semi-translucent and the absence of intense inclusions allows the light to penetrate it and make it look like purple Italian ice. The ring is a sz 8.75 US (r...

There are buckle bracelets and then, there are BUCKLE BRACELETS! And a spectacular Mexican Deco specimen of the latter I am proud to be presenting here. Honestly, however, all the aaahs and ooohs aside, this is one of the most glamorous mesh jewelry I have encountered even though its design elements are few and quite simple, if one thinks about it. Extra wide and finely woven, the sterling mesh is flexible and comfortably wraps around the wrist. The buckle itself is smooth and glows with the war...

One of my favorite - and at the same time classic - Enrique Ledesma designs the bracelet at hand combines sterling silver and golden sheen obsidian in the maestro's characteristic, perfectly seamless way. Ledesma experimented with various stones creating the specific bracelet but I think this year is meant to be an "obsidian year" for me and I will say that I love this version. Difficult to carve since it is a volcanic form of glass, obsidian has to be worked by skilled, masterful lapidaries to ...

Massive Los Ballesteros Mexican silver pendant, layered, adorned with beading and oxidation, in a convex shape that pushes the huge citrine centering it out at you - this is one of the most impressive pendants of theirs I have seen. For me it betrays a distinct Spanish Colonial influence as it based on the ornate order medals royals around the world like to bestow on select individuals to show favor and appreciation. The heavy silver-work is lightened by the cut-outs in it but matched by the hug...

It is not easy to stumble upon a vintage Los Ballesteros carved "mask" ring but when one does find an example, what a feast it is! There is nothing "timid" about this piece. The philosophy here is big, bold and beautiful and I believe that the Los Ballesteros workshop accomplished all this monumentality in the most amazing, masterful, and eye-pleasing way. The "mask" is here carved out of a dark green agate, I believe, with grayish white specs in it. Closed eyes, a slightly curved nose and full ...

Biomorphic sterling silver appliques on a highly oxidized "puffy" background take center-stage in this modernist Mexican set of Salvador Teran earrings. I grew up close to the sea so to my eyes, it's little crabs catching a bit of sun on mossy beach pebbles that are pictured here but your mind's eye might see something entirely different. Precious like all Salvador jewelry, beautifully made, not entirely identical as is the case with hand-wrought pieces of wearable art. Bottom-line? Irresistible...

A beautiful, unique, sterling silver overlay bracelet by Burle Marx. Roberto Burle Marx was a Brazilian landscape architect and jeweler. His brother, Haroldo Burle Marx, also a jeweler , was well-known for his carved stone free form designs, but his collaborations with his brother had a much more linear, abstract feel as in this piece. So I suspect this piece was either a collaboration of the brothers, or designed and made only by Roberto. Measuring 7 1/4" end to end, it is 1 1/4" wide and weigh...

Question marks, whether straight or inverted, seem to have provided a fun, tongue-in-cheeck motif when Taxco maestros were designing earrings. I have seen them hanging off repousse semi-spheres, studded with turquoise cabs and even having cascabeles themselves. Yet this big, bold and beautiful set goes above and beyond its peers. Sculptural repoussage, tiny beading accents and oxidation combine here with gorgeous bezel-set amethyst cabs in a curvaceous, sexy pair of Mexican Deco earrings. Yet it...

Generously long, with a hefty chain and an unusual stylized floral design, this early Mexican Deco necklace combines silver and copper in a playful yet still bold way. The graduated tulip links bring to my mind classic representations of the flower in Ottoman art - the blooms are slender and tall as opposed to the hybrids we are used today which are shorter and rounder. The minimalism of the floral links is set off by the cheerfulness of the mixed metals dangles, each made up of four "dimpled do...

In my opinion one of the most talented Taxco maestros, Felipe Martinez worked with Hubert Harmon for a brief period in the 1940s (see Hougart, Little Book of Mexican silver, p. 105) and created some of the most amazing jewelry in Taxco's heyday. And even though I am always impressed by the quality of the silver-work, it is mostly the lapidary work that elevates his "Piedra y Plata" creations to the level of sublime perfection. No wonder since Martinez was a sculptor and worked as such before he ...

This is only the second time I have ever had this incredible carved "mask" and sterling silver Mexican Deco pin / pendant and I am thrilled to have come upon another example after years of looking for it! One of the most enchanting "masks" from this period I have seen in terms of the lapidary skill it demonstrates, I call it euphemistically a "Medusa head" even though its theme is a little more gruesome than the severed head of a gorgon from ancient Greek mythology. Whether a vanquished enemy or...

A brooch that unabashedly lures the eye and invites the touch this sterling silver and golden sheen obsidian treasure bears the signature of Erika Hult de Corral, one of the few female designers of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance that we know of and definitely the only modernist. de Corral's work can be truly inspired - and she has a way with silver and stones that makes the materials simply flow into each other effortlessly, as if they were always meant to be together. Just look at how the ...

One of the best Taxco modernists Enrique Ledesma was successful not only as a jewelry designer but also as a mosaicist and a lapidary. Two of his favorite materials, sterling silver and stone, are combined here in a classic for the maestro design. Minimalist, quite geometric with clean, easy to follow lines, the necklace's only luxury seems to be the saturated, rich green of the chrysocolla (I think!) trapezoids. Easy to wear and quite comfortable as it has the ability to conform to the necklin...

Fine, .970 silver and black onyx crescents surround the wrist in this book-piece Antonio Pineda Mexican modernist bracelet. One of the renowned maestro's most popular creations, I have to admit that I love the bracelet much more than the cascading necklace of the same design. There is something fierce and assertive about the crescent-shaped links that remind me of talons. Yet there is also a tenderness in the way they wrap themselves around the wrist - just like an eagle mother protecting her ne...

We have a very rare Salvador Teran vintage Mexican silver necklace with matching earrings. Both pieces have a strong presence with the earrings being 25 grams and 2.25 inches tall. At the widest point they measure 1.25 inches. A technique called Niello makes a beautiful smokey black finish on the silver and was widely used in the making of Mexican Silver. The drop on the necklace is three dimensional and stands 2 inches tall and 1.75 inches at the widest point. The wearable length is approximat...

I love these Mexican Deco "berries-on-a-branch" brooches! They are big and impressive and the berries come in different colors depending on the kind of agate used. I am always on the look-out for the best examples, the ones in which the silver branches are hefty and interestingly entwined and the berries made of good quality stone, rich in striations and color-variation. Admittedly a piece that requires a winter garment - it would be too heavy for a delicate silk blouse - yet one that would also...

Generously long and definitely mod, this Erika Hult de Corral necklace is a minimalist little treasure! Not only does it wear like a dream - for me it is the epitome of "less-is-more", except for the luscious greens that make the polished stone centering it a treat for the eye. This is a pre-1980 example of her work and quite versatile since you can easily wear it with that classy black dress or have it casually adorn your favorite worn T-shirt. The necklace measures 21 1/2" long and its width v...

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...

Classic Fred Davis Mexican Deco silver and turquoise bracelet in a design that is considered an iconic creation for the renowned designer, especially in this combination of materials. A row of repousse florets with stone hearts comfortably hugs the wrist and conforms to its movements freely. The turquoise cabs have developed an interesting variation of hues over the years which, in combination for the warmly glowing patina, adds character and a certain "life experience" to the bracelet. Need I s...

One of the pieces that were made around WWII, I believe, this Mexican silver and carved dyed calcite brooch is such a find! Shaped like a US Army officer's visor cap, complete with the appropriate insignia, it recounts part of the relationship the two countries had during those difficult times albeit in its jewelry version. The fact is that during WWII and due to the restrictions on the availability of metals which were dedicated to the war effort, many US jewelry manufacturers and big retailers...

One of the finest cuffs out there. A Really magnificent Ortega still showing the inside gold wash which helps release the bracelet from the pressing. The feathered headdress and the intricate swirls of flowers on each side show a masterful designer. It wows with a 5.25 inches height. The diameter of the bracelet is 2.5 inches by 3 inches up the arm. It can be professionally sized to fit at no charge. Pressed perfectly with no light holes or damage. It is signed Ortega, 925 Mexico, eagle 8 and a ...

Swallows hold within their slender, elegant little bodies tender memories of my childhood in Greece - they are considered the most important harbingers of spring and symbolize regeneration, hope and the assurance that sun-filled days will always follow the darkest hours of winter. For the Victorians, they represented faithfulness and the promise of a loved-one's return and as a motif, they were widely used in sentimental jewelry. This stunning Mexican Deco silver repousse version captures the bi...

The last example of a small Los Castillo "onix negro" jewelry collection I acquired a little time ago, this mod bracelet is perfect for the medium to smaller wrist. Its thick links remind me of mahjong tiles and I am captivated by their minimalist geometry. Easy to wear yet definitely a bracelet whose weight feels warm and familiar when you have it on - the perfect accessory to add that little bit of style to make it special. Measuring 6 3/8" long (wearable) by 1/2" wide it weighs 50.0 grams. It...

Gerardo Lopez is one of my favorite Taxco maestros. I believe his talent and workmanship to have been of the same caliber as that of his more famous contemporaries and I am always on the look out for his jewelry. Based on his work, I believe that he must have worked for at least the Los Castillo and/or Margot de Taxco and his prowess in the art of repoussage supports the hypothesis. But he didn't limit himself to the more "straightforward" kind of silversmithing - I have had enameled pieces by h...

Based on an ancient glyph, or at least inspired by one, this vintage Los Castillo Mexican silver and azur-malachite inlay necklace is out of the workshop's "mozaico Azteca" line of jewelry. Centuries old, the technique became almost obsolete during the Colonial period but was revived by Chato Castillo, one of Taxco's most talented, innovative and original maestros. The coloration of the stone here leans towards the greens and taupes with rich blues present here and there to add that visual surpr...

Perfect for medium to smaller wrists, this modernist Erika Hult de Corral bracelet was made in Taxco in the 1960s-70s. One of the few female contributors to Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance that we know of, de Corral studied at the Parson's School of Design in Paris. An award-winning designer, she worked with Sigi Pineda and Enrique Ledesma before opening her own workshop. Always within the scope of modernism, her jewelry is impeccably crafted, with high quality materials and when they don't ...

A fabulous sterling cuff with 18k gold concave dots by Arizona metalsmith Kim Rawdin. Kim Rawdin studied painting and art education in college in New York and his interest in jewelry started when he took a job as an art teacher on a Navajo reservation in Arizona. Becoming highly influenced by the beauty of the Arizona landscape, he is also influenced by traditional Japanese haiku and scroll paintings, and often includes on the reverse of his bracelets a poem that serves as “an emotional metaph...

A beautiful sterling and turquoise ring by Navajo Allen Kee created during his time as a benchsmith at the White Hogan Shop in Scottsdale, Arizona from 1946 to 1962, working beside Kenneth Begay. The ring is a size 6 1/4 and measures 1 1/4" long and 1/2" at the widest point. It weighs 8 grams and is in fine original condition. Spectacular stones that are free of chips or cracks. Signed as shown. Allen Kee and Kenneth Begay produced more award winning jewelry then any other silversmiths of this p...

Dated for 1972 and signed by Kultaseppa Salovaara Ky of Finland, this sterling silver and rose quartz hinged bangle bracelet epitomizes the less-is-more attitude of Scandinavian design. There is nothing superfluous here - everything serves a purpose and at the same time contributes to the bracelet's serene, confident beauty. Yet I think that the strongest element is the crystalline, soft pink of the rose quartz spheres. The bracelet has an inner circumference of 7 1/4" (clasped) with the three-...

Dating around 1930, this Mexican Deco Fred Davis necklace in a design that rarely comes up, is an early example of "mixed metals" jewelry. Combining repousse silver with copper wire and then bringing in ripe, saturated color with the amethyst cabs, the necklace is an ode to vineyards and aromatic red wine. Though the brooch of the parure appears in the third edition of Morrill's "Mexican Silver" (p. 28), the necklace is hard to find and I am thrilled to be presenting it here. Beautiful repoussag...

Here is a rare Los Castillo necklace design # 482A. The weight is pure lux at 85grams. Length of this treasure is 16 in. and it lays like silk. The links are strung on silver cable links. Correctly signed and with no damage. Certainly collector quality and perfect for fun or board room savy, just LOOK AT THAT NECKLACE!

Hector Aguilar is known for his collection worn by Georgia O'keeffe. This one is iconic as the matching bracelet to her belt that we see her wearing in photographs. A well fitting treasure with 7in. in length with more that can be let out if needed and shortened as needed. There is a height of 1.75in. The material is a fabric backed suede. I am at a loss of words for this design. I think all I can say is it is my favorite bracelet in the entire Mexican Silver Renaissance. It is current with all ...

In 1940 Spratling was commissioned to design the first logo for Aeromexico Airlines then known as Aeronaves de Mexico S.A. The design included a stylized eagle with serpent in its' beak along with AMSA. Penny Morrill's beautiful new book DREAMING IN SILVER (p.111 & 123)discusses this period and features the deeply carved and detailed pin based on Spratling's AMSA design. Measuring 1 1/4" X 1 1/4" the pin is in beautiful condition. The unusual pin closure/safety on the back is tight and secure. ...

The emerald Salvador Teran is one of the most sleek and rich designs from his body of work. The stones are raw uncut emerald crystals. The necklace diameter is 5.3 inches and the face front is .75 of an inch. The neck band is jointed for a perfect fit and the drop displayed for a straight forward look at the emeralds. It masterfully displays 72 grams of silver and is 18 inches of wearable length. The bracelet is 7 inches long and is also segmented for a perfect fit. One inch is the height of th...

We have offered today a very early Antonio Pineda repousse brooch signed with his earliest hallmark of AP. The Quetzalcoatl is beautifully done and with no damage. The dimensions are 3in. long and 2 3/8th's tall at highest points. This size is perfect for holding a shawl together on a chilly night. The weight is 26 grams of thick silver. A very special treasure.

This ribbed Hector Aguilar Bracelet is a rare find with 104 grams of heft and a striking height of 1 3/4 inches. Perfectly hallmarked with an applied plaque. This treasure is well rounded fitting perfectly on the wrist. The diameter is 2 3/8 in. The 6 stones are a hidden surprise presenting to the one who wears it. No dents and versatile to wear with anything anywhere.

Gorgeous silver hinged bangle bracelet signed by Topazio of Portugal featuring a repousse "harvest" motif with bunches of mature wheat in rectangular frames. Topazio bracelets are the best of the genre - their designs are crisp and register easily to the eye; the finishing is impeccable and their decorative motifs a joy to behold. I love the octagonal shape on the outer surface, the sense of Deco geometry it adds to the piece and the silky soft patina the bracelet has developed over its long lif...