Pre-Eagle Mexican Spratling Design Silver Coco Bracelet

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1950: item #745946
GA018

“Pulsera de Cocos”… That is how William Spratling referred to the silver bracelet, which was created by Justo “Coco” Castillo in the mid-1930’s, when Castillo was a silversmith in Spratling’s taller. Now, offered for your consideration, here is a re-interpretation of the Coco design in a stunning and elegant bracelet, dating from the 1930’s or ’40s. Its graceful and feminine motif is comprised of six stations, each made up of two large balls and foliate-style straps, connected by circular rings.... Click for details

Fantastic Hector Aguilar Vintage 990 Silver Necklace

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1950: item #744228
SHAN638

Exciting Vintage Mexican Silver Necklace by Hector Aguilar of higher 990 silver content. Rare trapezoid plaques are united with hand-made cascabeles to create this marvelous necklace. Evidence of hand-tooling found throughout including the charming small 'hammer' marks created by forming the trapezoid shapes. Attention to detail includes upper edge of trapezoid being slightly concave to ensure that the piece articulates well at the neck and varying lengths on the connecting loops for the cascadi... Click for details

Vintage Mexican Silver Serpent Snake Panel Bracelet

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1980: item #743743
GA015

A serpent’s tale … In religious terms, snakes or serpents may have been the most important fauna of Mesoamerica. The serpent was associated with creation, spiritual journeys, and religious experience. In Aztec carvings and art, the open mouth of the snake symbolized the cave Mesoamericans believed to be an entrance to the spirit world or to the underworld. This bracelet is an outstanding example of pre-Columbian tribal serpent imagery, executed with a fabulous modernist flair. Here, eight sterli... Click for details

Early Spratling Era Mexican Taxco Glyphic Silver Brooch

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1940: item #743327
GA014

Early Spratling-era design and technique … This remarkable pre-Eagle brooch is based on a celebrated piece by William Spratling from his first design period, 1931-1946. Crafted in 980 silver, it is composed of a flat disc with a surmounted figural of Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl. Expert hand tooling, openwork, and piercing bring the feathered serpent vividly alive with pre-Columbian glyphic detailing and definition. Noted silversmith Rafael Melendez, who worked with Spratling in 1932, created a simil... Click for details

Vintage Mexican M. Ocampo Silver Inlay Set - Book Piece

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1950: item #743319
GA013

Divine design, Sumptuous silverwork … Here is an absolutely elegant and gorgeously crafted necklace and screwback earrings set by noted Mexican silver maker M. Ocampo. Its design boasts Art Nouveau/Art Deco panache, with luminous abalone shell and onyx inlays. The necklace sports a lovely pendant in a stylized bow motif with a faceted jet drop. Hallmarks: On necklace and each earring—M OCAMPO, TAXCO, MEX {circle}, 925 {inside circle}. M. Ocampo is featured in Bille Hougart’s The Little Book of M... Click for details

Vintage Mexican Taxco Silver, Onyx + Abalone Earrings

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1960: item #743314
GA012

Luminous + Lustrous … This sublime pair of classic colonial 1950’s earrings boasts the great artistry collectors expect of vintage Taxco jewelry. Featuring an elegantly designed bird motif—parrots or perhaps quetzals—each earring is composed of sterling silver inlaid with gorgeous iridescent abalone shell. Onyx inlay has been used for the bird beaks. Eminently wearable, these impressively sized earrings also make outstanding display pieces in a collection. Hallmarks: STERLING, 925, TAXCO {circle... Click for details

Vintage Mexican Silver, Azurite Earrings by Ledesma

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1960: item #742532
SELE634

Vintage azurite and silver earrings by Enrique Ledesma. Modern design and flawless execution characterize these vintage Mexican silver earrings. Multi-planed, hand carved azurite stones marry seamlessly with their silver settings. Correctly hallmarked to reflect early Ledesma artistry. In fine vintage condition with wear to both stone and silver surfaces. Deep blue through green hue to stones complete these pieces to perfection.

Vintage Mexican Silver Charm Bracelet

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1950: item #742520
SUAB633

Delightful vintage Mexican silver bracelet composed of heavier, uniquely designed link bracelet and oversized hand cut onyx heart. A circa 1930s to 1940s piece whose chain design is similar to one I have seen by Los Castillo and also by Hector Aguilar. Made to fit well with 'flattened' reverso so that bracelet lays well on the wearer's wrist. Heart measures 1 3/4" square (without drop) and is just under 1/2" deep. Chain measures 7 5/8" long and 1/2" wide with a depth of approximately 1/4". Mar... Click for details

Rare Vintage Mexican AEM Silver + Copper Demi Parure

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1970: item #741913
GA010

Silversmith to the stars … AE inside a heart-shaped M: The hallmark is considered one of the more interesting “mystery marks” in vintage Mexican silver. It appears on designs by modernist Estela Popowski, as well as on those for Rancho Alegre. And sometimes it’s found just by itself, on silver pieces whose elegant and seemingly effortless lines reveal a master’s technique.
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Early Vintage Mexican Casa Prieto Silver Pegasus Brooch

Archives: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican Pre 1950: item #741602
GA009

Avenue Juarez … Mexico City’s jewelry central, where many of the goldsmiths and silversmiths set up shop during the 1930’s and ’40s, in order to facilitate collection of the government taxes for precious metal jewelry. Casa Prieto, was one of those silver houses and its address, Ave. Juarez 40, became the highly recognizable hallmark on their pieces. Unlike the silversmiths of Taxco, Mexico City jewelers were greatly influenced by old-world European designs. This Casa Prieto brooch, with its rom... Click for details