A graduate of the Parson's School of Design in Paris, Erika Hult de Corral is one of my favorite modernist designers and silversmiths in the context of Mexican silver jewelry. Spanning a few decades, her work is unfailingly of the highest quality with attention paid not only to materials but also to finishing and, of course, imaginative design. The ring presented here, wrought in sterling and centered by a scrumptious tiger's eye stone, can also be found with Enrique Ledesma's signature...
One of my favorite "less celebrated" Taxco maestros, Gerardo Lopez has been steadily gaining in popularity among collectors of vintage Mexican silver jewelry. I suspect that he worked for the Los Castillo and / or Margot de Taxco before he started his own taller as his creations are often reminiscent of designs issued by both famous workshops. Lopez's repoussage is masterful and the finishing on his jewelry impeccable...
Bearing the signature of Pedro Castillo this bracelet is, for me, a fusion of classic Taxco "arhaeological" as well as modernist elements. The overlay is immaculately crafted - one would never expect less from a Castillo - and the design lends itself to several readings...
In the style associated with Matilde Poulat the Mexican Deco sterling silver brooch presented here is big, bold and beautiful! Wrought en repoussage and embellished with hand-chasing feathers and beads surround three gorgeous turquoise cabochons in shades of blue and green. The brooch is open-backed like many of Matl’s early pieces and a pleasure to wear and to behold. It measures
2 3/4” wide by 1 7/8” tall and weighs 17.8 grams...
Large and beautifully crafted Navajo Silver and Turquoise ring, size 8 3/4", measuring 1 3/4" long and 1" wide, and 1 1/4" high from base of band to top of stone.
The stone has a lovely caramel and brown matrix, with a deep turquoise green tone.
It is signed "sterling" and has a maker's mark that is not clear.
From a collection of good Navajo jewelry, most pre 1980s.
In good condition, some wear and slight tarnist visible to silver, but the stone is in perfect condition, nicely polished and ...
Stinn Modernist sterling silver abstract necklace
Pendant - 2" x 1"
Chain measures 17" when outstretched
Marked Stinn, sterling
Excellent vintage condition
Possibly the most "surrealist" early Mexican Deco "mask" brooch I have ever had, this piece is the source of so many questions for me. What is it exactly that it depicts with its "portrait" surrounded by an elaborate headdress, the two arms emanating right from its top with no actual body present? And what is the "mask" itself made of? It registers as a stone in my gem-tester but I am not sure if it is onyx or a different type of opaque, black stone...
A classic combination for Enrique Ledesma, the marrying of sterling and stone, makes this vintage Mexican bracelet an easily recognizable creation by the renowned Taxco modernist. The stone is here azur-malachite, I believe, with greens and browns predominant and the warmth of the silver casings adds a certain "inner glow" to it...
Slender, elongated, hand-wrought fine silver feathers that end in a playful curl make up this set of "swan wing" modernist earrings by Antonio Pineda. I have to admit that this is one of the most unexpected Antonio creations I have ever encountered. When I first saw it, I thought that the clip-ons would have to surely be a later replacement yet I have since seen a similar pair and that one too had the same findings. Now these are earrings for those not afraid to .....
Straddling the divide between Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts design, this hinged sterling silver buckle bracelet was, I believe, made in the USA based on its hallmarking. The entire surface of the front "wing" is etched with ivy leaves, a motif beloved by the Victorians it seems, while the back is left blank, as is usually the case with bracelets of this type...
Bird doll motif. Pre assay era Made in Mexico bird pin brooch. Early - tested at least sterling - colossal 4 3/4" north to south with 2 turquoise beads. This figural exhibits flowers in the style of Fred Davis or Matilde Poulat. Repousse and chase workmanship.
The native peoples were known to make dolls representing the local animals for their children to play. Today those same children are being taught the value in Nature Tourism...
Maestro Mateo of Taxco is known among vintage jewelry collectors for his modernist, mostly brutalist, ring designs. His work is sought after for its quality, the beauty of the stones he incorporates in his pieces and the strong sense of tension that his rings exude. His career strides the divide between the so-called Eagle mark period and that of the T-marks and, in my experience, he is one of the very few silversmiths who used .950 alloys before they became the norm in the 1980s...
These mid-century earrings from Antonio Pineda are large and unusual. The primitive hunter design is said to have been based on the Lascaux cave drawings, used on several of his pieces. I have the matching bracelet in my shop.
These dangle earrings are quite substantial, measuring 2" top to bottom, with a width of 1 7/16".
Weight is 28.5 grams...
Circa mid-century, this ring was produced by Antonio Pineda.
It's a thick and substantial ring, with a superb modernist twist design...
Early pre-eagle large bracelet with a lacy flower form pattern. Circa 1940. Marked STERLING 925 TAXCO. With a darkened aged finish. It weighs 59
grams. This piece and most of the other Mexican silver I have listed came from one long time collector's estate. 4 inches wide in the front and with a
wearable length (when the edges meet) of 7 inches. Excellent condition. No dents. Photos enlarged to show detail. Display form is life size.
This brooch by Matilde Poulat features a large amethyst front and center, with turquoise cabochons and coral branches in a butterfly design with dangles.
Measures 2" tall x 1 1/2" wide. Pin closes with a rolling "C" clasp.
Weight is 11.8 grams.
Signed and hallmarked "Matl Mexico 925", with the eagle assay 129. Dates to pre-1960.
A beautiful pair of Earrings by the famous Matilde Poulat who signed her work MATL. They feature her ornate silver work set with Coral cabochon stones in a swirl design. They measure 1 3/8" long by 5/8" wide and weigh 10.4 grams. In good condition with the typical screw backs. Hallmarked on one earring "MATL". These are a gorgeous pair of earrings by a important artist.
Circa mid-century, this Los Castillo pin is a spectacular work of wearable art, and features one of their most iconic designs.
It's a multi-dimensional piece with superb repoussé silver work, highly detailed, and absolutely collector quality.
Measures 3 1/4" x 2". Pin closes with a roller.
Weight is a very substantial 30.8 grams.
Signed and hallmarked with the early linear mark "Los Castillo Taxco Sterling Made in Mexico", along with the design ...