Hand-hammered silver reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement and a jade bead that brings to mind ancient Aztec and Maya jewelry combine in this sterling silver ring by the Los Castillo. The specific design does not come up very often. In all my years of buying and selling vintage Mexican jewelry I have only had two examples - the second one being the one offered here...

Bold, clean lines on this sterling and coral ring by Frank Patania. The center coral is a deep, dark Mediterranean coral at its best. The ring is a size 6 1/2, measures 1" long and 5/8" wide and weighs 13 grams. Fine original condition with no chips or cracks to the stone. Signed as shown. A great mid-century design.

Today we have a vintage Mexican silver parure made by Maestro Sigi Pineda. Sigi has had a long career in handmade jewelry within the Spratling era. His work is heavy, made with excellent stones as this parure also has. The obsidian is extreme sheen on the necklace and you may see silver dots that sparkle on the other pictures which is the camera reacting to the sheen in less light. There is no damage of any kind and this modernist design is a basic to wear with anything...

This is a spectacular and very rare hand-wrought necklace from Margot van Voorhies Carr / Margot de Taxco, featuring superb repoussé silver work. Opposing Chinese dragons are at the center of this piece, which measures a closed, wearable length of 15 1/2". A variation of this necklace is shown in Penny C...

One of Taxco's most famous modernists Sigi Pineda was also a very prolific designer and at his best moments, truly inspired. I am used to seeing minimalist, fluid pieces by him and the brooch at hand, wrought in sterling silver and adorned with a teardrop-shaped obsidian, is the result of a good moment indeed...

This mid-century bracelet from Antonio Pineda is a seldom seen design, sometimes referred to as "Rings and Planets", with a smooth and seamless flow. Thick, heavy, and just all around stunning. The closure is a tongue which fits into a round ball, and is itself a work of art. Measures a closed, wearable length of 7 1/4". Weight is 68.6 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, "VJ" within a circular "Taxco Mexico", "970", and the eagle assay 3...

This stunning necklace is a rarely seen Antonio Pineda book-piece design, shown in Silver Seduction p.110. Collector quality. It's a show-stopper, with a serpentine dangle measuring 3 3/4" long composed of alternating turquoise and carnelian cabochons. The stones are gorgeous and perfectly matched in color...

This Hector Aguilar masterpiece dates to mid-century. Collector quality, with six large onyx cabochons and a tongue in box clasp. Measures a closed, wearable length of 7 1/8", with a width of 1 1/16". Weight is 91.7 grams. Signed and hallmarked "HA 940 Taxco ", with the eagle assay 9. In excellent vintage condition.

We have a properly signed Antonio Pineda crescent necklace styled with black onyx and having a height of one inch. The weight is 111 grams of quality construction. A natural dark patina is on this treasure and it gives a smoky rich look but many wish Pineda's to be shiny so I will leave that up to the buyer. It sits up on an angle and lays perfectly on the neck with a 17 inch wearable length. I listed a matching bracelet on my site as well if you dream of a set...

One of the most talented Taxco maestros, Gerardo Lopez was exceptional in the art of repoussage and his jewelry is sought after and avidly collected for its quality and inventive motif combinations. I have suggested in the past that he must have worked for the Los Castillo and / or Margot de Taxco because many of the motifs he uses are also found in the famous workshops' creations...

Impressive takes on a whole different meaning when the work of the Los Castillo taller is concerned - and the wide, exuberantly vibrant floral and foliate repousse bracelet I am presenting here proves the point. Continuing in the 1940s’ spirit that called for designs derived from nature in jewelry production, this piece is a celebration of everything verdant - organic in an unexpected way, full of movement, reaching for the sunlight, twisting and twirling with the wind...

One of the best lapidaries in Taxco’s jewelry history, Felipe Martinez created amazing jewelry in many styles. The classy sterling silver and azur-malachite earrings at hand follow the “mozaico Azteca” line that was introduced by the Los Castillo workshop. Rich, dark blues, understated safe and a breath-taking splash of electric green come together in the stone inlay held securely in the most minimal “gypsy” setting...

Circa mid-century, here is a rare find from Antonio Pineda. Extra-long dangle earrings with gorgeous smokey quartz gemstones. The almost pure 970 silver has a bamboo design, and the bezel-set stones have open-back settings to let the light shine through, playing up the exquisite bronze hues...

Abstract - and rather chubby - fish wrought in sterling silver with overlay and oxidation hang off the earlobes with this set of abstract Mexican dangles signed by Sigi Pineda. I don't believe I had this specific design by the talented - and prolific - Taxco modernist before but I am very familiar with the line and definitely in love with it...

Sold through Plateria Cortes this Taxco mid-century silver and stone necklace is signed by Enrique Ledesma and indeed considered a classic example of the Mexican modernist. Ledesma excelled in the marriage of sterling and semi-precious or hard stones is sleek, minimalist designs so his jewelry has a timeless appeal and is very much relevant today as it was when it first saw the day of light. It seems that here we have two kinds of stones, both of them in hues of green and brown, set in channels ...

Margot de Taxco loved combination pin / pendant necklaces and she designed them so that you could take the brooch away and still link the two lengths of chain and wear them alone as an elegant choker. I suspect that many pieces were comprised of inter-changeable elements so if you had this set and a different pin/pendant out of her “hand-hammered” line, for example, you could theoretically attach to this chain and enjoy that second brooch as a necklace too. Big, bold and beautiful, the bow i...

A vintage sterling silver geometric bracelet designed by Gine Sommerfelt for J. Tostrup, Norway. Made up of eleven curved links. Sommerfelt worked at Tostrup until 1964 when she started her own workshop.

Measures 7 3/4" long and just under an 2 inches wide. Signed with the Tostrup logo, 925S, and the stylized GS for Gine Sommerfelt on the back. Hook clasp holds securely.

In very nice condition, has some minor surface scratches.

Fine, bold design. Rare example of Scandinavia...

This Antonio Pineda wave bracelet is a spectacular masterpiece.

It's a book piece design, shown in "Silver Masters of Mexico", among others. Composed of twelve silver "waves", each of which is formed from a single sheet of heavy gauge silver.

Weighing in at a massive 202 grams, this is the ultimate showpiece that commands instant attention, compliments, and envy. It's also the largest version of this design, with a closed, wearable length of 7 3/8" and a width of 1 3/8". ...

Circa mid-century, this bracelet is the work of Felipe Martinez / Piedra Y Plata. Martinez, who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, opened his shop "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. Before opening his shop Martinez had been an expert sculptor. Features six dense green stones and a superb modernist design, Martinez was known for selecting spectacular stones, and this bracelet does not disappoint. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 3/8", with a width of 11/16". Closure is a tight and s...

Made by Kupittan Kulta of Finland is this pleasant, silver, leaf brooch. The long leaves are slightly concave, curving alongside a bezel-set, amethyst cabochon "bud." The brooch is signed, “anvil mark” (for Kupittaan Kulta), “crown in heart” mark (for Finland), “813H” (silver fineness), city mark for Turku and “H7” for 1961. It measures 2 5/8” tall x 5/8” at its widest point. It’s in excellent condition.

A retail shop in Taxco, according to Bille Hougart, Plateria Cortes is a name also found on some of Enrique Ledesma pieces, most probably because they were sold there. So my first thought when I saw this set of vintage Mexican silver surrealist earrings was that they might have been made by Ledesma. And then it all came back to me - a couple of years ago, I sold three sets of earrings in the same exact style (and actually even a pair like the one at hand) clearly signed for Sigi Pineda. Interest...

Fleshy, slick and so mod this set of vintage Mexican Antonio Pineda earrings is wrought in his favorite fine (.970) silver alloy in the form of heart-shaped leaves. Antonio's jewelry, no matter how many elements combined in a design, if unfailingly sculptural and shamelessly tactile. It is very difficult to restrain oneself and not keep passing one's fingers over the masterfully worked, perfectly finished silver. Measuring 1 5/16" long by 5/8" wide the earrings weigh 14.4 grams (for the set) an...

This huge pendant is the work of Celia Harms and likely dates 1960's-70's. Celia Harms pieces are rarely seen, and no two are identical. Measuring 6" tall, this pendant is composed of lapis lazuli and branch coral with sterling silver 22k vermeil beads. Weight is 58.9 grams. Signed and hallmarked inside the bale "Celia Harms Sterling Mexico". In excellent vintage condition. The vermeil is perfect and even.

A book piece for Sigi Pineda, the “boomerang” brooch belongs in a line of jewelry in which the Taxco modernist combined layering, purposefully applied oxidation and vividly colored semi-precious and hard- stones to create slick, modernist, I would even say space-age, designs that seems as relevant today as they did when they were first introduced to the world. What I always found amazing about this brooch is the ingenious - and quite minimal - way the stone (chrysoprase in our case) is incor...

Circa mid-century, this Antonio Pineda bracelet is a rare and spectacular piece.

The unique modernist design resembles a bicycle chain, with fifteen obsidian cylinders/bars within eight panels. Closure is a pin on a chain. The obsidian has a glittery golden sheen, absolutely gorgeous.

Bracelet has a closed, wearable length of 6 3/4" and a width of 1".

Weight is 74 grams.

Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, 970, and the eagle assay 17....

These collector quality mid-century earrings are a very seldom seen design from Hector Aguilar. These are gorgeous, comfortable to wear, and have great movement. Each earring has nine dangles, each tipped with a tiny silver ball. Screw backs work perfectly,. Measures 1 3/4" tall, 3/4" wide. Weight is 12 grams. Signed and hallmarked on each earring with a conjoined flared HA,.940 Taxco, and the eagle assay 9. In excellent vintage condition.

Circa mid-century, this necklace was produced by Tane Orfebres of Mexico City. Tane, founded in the 1950's, is referred to as the "Tiffany's of Mexico". This is one of their earlier pieces.

It's an exceptional and rare necklace, with a huge center pendulum drop which swing freely. There are four sections to the collar, which hooks together at the rear. This is a true statement piece, and one which will not fail to be instantly noticed.

Closed inside circumference is 15". Th...

Stern and solemn, a gorgeous example of classic Mexican Deco lapidary work, the chrysoprase “mask” centering the silver pendant at hand looks dignified and at ease, completely unaffected by the weight of its ornate headdress. The hefty, entirely hand-wrought chain that accompanies it is, I believe, original to the necklace and perfectly reflects the pendant’s heaviness. Signed by one of Taxco’s “less celebrated” maestros, those listed in the relevant literature yet still unidentified...

Circa mid-century, this is an extremely rare necklace produced by Salvador Teran. The matching bracelet is listed separately. Bottom pic shows the set. Teran worked with William Spratling at Taller de Las Delicias before leaving with his cousins, the Castillo brothers, in 1939 to work with them at their new taller, "Los Castillo." Considered by many to be a genius at designing, Salvador worked at Los Castillo for many years before establishing his own taller "La India Bonita" in 1952. Th...

One of Taxco's foremost modernists, Enrique Ledesma was also an accomplished lapidary and his slick, mid-century jewelry often feature a seamless marriage of silver with semi-precious and other stones. In the bracelet presented here, the green inlay is ridged and discreetly held in its sterling setting creating a row of elongated shield-shaped links that moves smoothly and easily conforms to the wrist. Lovely patina, beautiful color variation and a great signature make this a must-have for your ...

These Antonio Pineda earrings are a rare find. Collector quality, these are absolutely exquisite with a stunning modernist design. They have great movement and hang nice and long at 3". Screw backs work perfectly. Weight is 19.1 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, eagle assay 208. In excellent vintage condition with no issues whatsoever.

Graciously aged sterling silver, green stone inlay and warmly glowing copper combine in this Enrique Ledesma Mexican modernist necklace. Ledesma is a favorite Taxco maestro of mine - his modernism is soft and close to the heart; his designs emphasizing gently curving lines that are only enhanced by the richness of earth colors his inlays come in. The elements in the piece at hand are well known to the lover of the maestro’s jewelry yet the addition of the copper “animal teeth” leads to a w...

Possibly my most favorite Carmen Beckmann ring design (an example lives in my jewelry box), her Etruscan style domed creation presented here is an ode to wire-work and micro-beading. It rises regally above the finger yet because of all those curved, glistening surfaces, it never creates problems to the wearer like most rings that are so high do. And though its “stature” is by itself impressive, it is all those nooks and crannies among the profusion of design elements coming together here tha...

This is a beautiful pair of cufflinks from Antonio Pineda with an archer shadowbox design said to be inspired by the cave drawings of Lascaux. In excellent vintage condition. T-backs are tight and snappy. Measures 1 1/4" tall. Weight is 23.2 grams. Signed and hallmarked on each cufflink with the Antonio Taxco crown, Hecho en Mexico, 970, and the eagle assay 17. No issues whatsoever.

This mid-century pendant/pin/necklace can be worn several different ways. Pin on its own, necklace with pendant, and pin and necklace separately.

It's a very rarely seen design, and it is most certainly collector quality.

The shadowbox design has a darkened background which is absolutely flawless.

Pendant/pin measures 1 7/8" x 1 3/8". Closed, wearable length is 17".

Weight is 79.7 grams.

Signed and hallmarked "Sigi Tasco Sterling Hecho e...

Signed by my favorite Mexican modernist, this set of Salvador Teran earrings in the so-called "crouching man" design combines sterling, strategically placed oxidation and richly speckled azur-malachite stones. I consider Teran a true genius - his jewelry has that inner power that holds the gaze and the imagination captive and sends them on surreal journeys into worlds familiar and at the same time strange and wondrous. Based on ancient Mesoamerican motifs that the maestro re-interprets in unexpe...