An accomplished member of the Mexico City school of repoussage, maestro M. Velazquez was a contemporary of Matilde Poulat's and many of his designs are actually based on Matl's originals. The level of craftsmanship and the quality of his work have contributed to his becoming increasingly sought after by collectors, especially with the high prices Poulat's creations realize. I love all his pieces but I have a particular affinity for his brooches and this one, I have never seen in the past...

Sterling overlay and three-dimensional stone frogs turn this Carmen Beckmann necklace into a small sculpture gallery around the neck! One of the few known to us female contributors to Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance albeit active a little later than the beginnings of the big Mexico City and Taxco workshops, she was based in San Miguel de Allende in the 1950s and 1960s and that is where she created most of her jewelry...

A silver arrow shooting through the turquoise center of a starburst is quite a powerful design and in the hands of Antonio Pineda, it becomes a jewel to be enjoyed and lovingly bequeathed from generation to generation. I like the little game Antonio plays here - who wouldn't expect the arrow to shoot through a heart, right? After all, Eros and his bittersweet weapons are so familiar to all of us. But no - the arrow in our case shoots for the ... stars and the turquoise blue sky is its limit.....

Sterling silver inlaid with azur-malachite, here with browns and greens dominating, this set of vintage Mexican earrings is out of the Los Castillo "mozaico Azteca" line. I find jewelry created with this technique fascinating - the array of colors in the inlay is wide and rich, allowing the same piece to re-create itself as it plays with the changing light...

Set of modernist Mexican earrings bearing the Los Castillo signature, each earring featuring two male profiles, one executed in silver, the second with azur-malachite inlay. Though the Mozaico Azteca technique employed here was among the innovations and revivals the Los Castillo workshop is credited for, I believe the pair at hand was in fact designed by their cousin, Salvador Teran, when he was still working with them...

From the earlier part of Matilde Poulat's magically creative career this set of silver and red coral earrings is characterized by her textured wirework, beading and bezel-set stones. Almost understated when compared to Matl's usually bold designs, it reminds me of inverted question marks. I love the classic elegance and the way the dark patina of the silver makes the saturated color of the cabs pop. The earrings are 1 1/2" tall by 1" wide and weigh 11.5 grams (for the set)...

Another rare treasure properly signed with Antonio Pineda's hallmarks is featured here today. At 1.25 inches tall and 7.25 inches long it shows a big presence. This is easily sized if needed smaller. Masterful in design with 86 grams of 970 silver.The stones are elongated tear drops and are of a higher grade of stones with clarity. This is a stone that moves from a purple hue to a lighter more clear color and back to a purple hue. Each stone looks like a flowing water fall with each movement...

For all the horse-lovers out there this majestic Margot de Taxco Mexican silver brooch is a must-have! There is something about her des. 5160 that makes one see the muscles in that strong neck, smell the warmth of the animal's mane, feel the tension as it waits for the go-ahead so it can run like the wind. Masterful repoussage, great design, deep chasing that makes the horse come alive and the patina you want to see on a well-loved, well-cared for silver brooch of this vintage...

I have a very rare, Antonio Pineda Terascan necklace to offer today. Properly signed on the silver balls attached to velvet and on the Terascan itself. A thick 970 silver sheet is hand made and hand hammered to build texture. The bottom is rimmed for a well finished look and depth. The height in the center is 1.25 in. and it spans 5 in. across. No damage on the silver or velvet which is in excellent condition. The velvet can be tied as long as 23 in. Approximate pendant weight is 70 grams...

A pair of leaves made out of sterling silver and inlaid with azur-malachite this set of Salvador Teran earrings remains true to the absolute minimalism that characterizes his jewelry...

Classic 1960s Sigi Pineda Mexican silver modernist brooch in a design that looks to me like an angelfish albeit rendered in the most minimalist fashion. I consider Sigi's "niello" line one of the most inspired periods in his admittedly long and prolific career. I find that the metallic black/grey oxidation applied to some of the silver surfaces adds unsurpassed depth and sculpturality, something that in more traditionally crafted pieces is achieved by repoussage and hand-chasing. The fluidity of...

Bangle bracelets, be they hinged or solid, are a big love of mine but I am doubly thrilled to be presenting here a set of three signed by the Los Castillo! How often does one see this form with this signature, truly? Not often enough is the answer and the rarity enhances the innate quality of the pieces. Thick silver, saturated azur-malachite and sprarkling peacock abalone combine here is a musical, playful trio you can wear as easily with jeans and a T-shirt as with that slick, black dinner dre...

Beautiful sterling cuff with fine line chisel work by Navajo silversmith Gibson Nez. Deceased on December 1,2007, he was a self taught silversmith who won the prestigious Smithsonian Medal of Honor, more than 700 blue ribbons, was featured in magazines and books and was a featured guest artist in many museums and galleries across the United States. This beautiful cuff measures 5 1/4" around in the inside plus an additional 1 1/2" opening. It is 1 3/8"" wide and weighs 95 grams. It is in fine ori...

Demanding and difficult, onix negro (black onyx) is a technique by which the classic art of stone inlay is reversed; instead of setting stone within a silver frame, it is now silver shapes that are placed in a flat piece of black onyx. Devised by the Los Castillo at the beginning of the 1950s, onix negro was practiced by a few other maestros as well with results that are definitely different and can be quite impressive. I believe the bracelet presented here in a modernist interpretation of an an...

Dramatic Antonio Pineda modernist silver ring wrought in his signature .970 alloy this piece is all about powerful, unencumbered movement! I am wearing it as I write and even though I can see it and I can touch it, I still I find it quite amazing that such a "simple" design, such an non-embellished execution can muster the strength of a tidal wave, cast in it fine silver and restrain it on the finger. I think one of Antonio's most inspired moments and a must-have ring for the discerning collecto...

Most probably designed by Salvador Teran when he worked for his cousins, the Los Castillo, this pair of Mexican modernist silver dangle earrings is not an easy set to find. Though the Los Castillo did not experiment as much in modernism as some other Taxco maestros and workshops they do count among their creations some amazing examples thanks to Teran's genius. The exaggerated, elongated figures forming the earrings' main body bear the surrealist stamp of Taxco's foremost, in my opinion, moderni...

We are showing a dramatic vintage Mexican Silver bib necklace with warmed turquoise stones and marked only with 925. You can see the hammered silver on the underside which I love to see in a pre Spratling dated necklace. There is a 17 inch wearable currently and it does come with 2 extra links for a longer look. The repousse is not backed as you can see and the weight is 71 grams of heft. The top of the bib spans 7.5 inches across and 3.5 inches long in the center. There is no damage of any kind...

Early, heavy, wrought in fine purity .980 silver the stupendous chain in this pendant necklace is obviously based on Hector Aguilar's "v" link design. Bearing simply a raised mark for Taxco and the metal content hallmark, it is without any doubt comparable to the renowned maestro's original both in heft as well as in level of craftsmanship and quality of materials used. Its deep and careful hand-chased details reflect the warmly ornamentation on the locket pendant I have paired it with. Of the s...