This tour-de-force bracelet from Antonio Pineda pulls out all the stops. It's a book-piece design, shown on p. 209 of "William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance".

Composed of thirteen amethyst cylindrical bars and silver cones, it's an amazing bracelet with a very luxurious feel. The amethysts are gorgeous stones with natural inclusions and quartz marbling, well matched in color...

An early design by the Los Castillo taller (could it have been created by their cousin, Salvador Teran, when he was still working for them?), the “fish skeleton” is considered a classic and has seen many emulations and reproductions over the years. The hinged bracelet at hand, wrought in thick silver sheet with copper bead accents, is a modernist treasure that was made for small wrists...

Circa mid-century, this Antonio Pineda amethyst bracelet is a book piece design, known as "Architectural Cuff with Amethyst Closure".

Shown in both "William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance" and "Silver Seduction The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda", this piece is an extraordinary example of the brilliant work put forth by Antonio. It's a superb modernist cuff bracelet, sleek and chunky, and it looks stunning on the wrist...

An elegant 970 silver and amethyst necklace by Taxco silversmith Antonio Pineda. The square bezel set cabochon amethyst links alternate with square silver links and terminate with a secure silver push in clasp. The necklace measures approximately 17 1/2" end to end ( it is curved so hard to measure exactly), is 3/4" wide and weighs a very sturdy 157 grams. The links are double strung on silver chain and the necklace is in fine condition with no chips or cracks to any of the stones...

Stunning and rare, especially in its use of the specific stone, this vintage Mexican silver necklace features a combination pin / pendant signed by Taxco's foremost lapidary, Felipe Martinez, and a substantial chain from the same period which I believe might be by the same maestro as it bears an Eagle assay mark that Martinez used. And yes, the superbly carved "mask" is teased out of tiger's eye stone though a more unusual kind that it often referred to as "hawk's" or "falcon's eye"...

Signed by Victoria who is often credited in the relevant literature with having perfected the "mixed metals" technique this big, bold combination pin / pendant brings together sterling silver, copper and brass in an Aztec Revival design. I am fascinated by the seamless marrying of the metals in "casados" pieces and Ana Nunez de Brilanti excelled in their design and crafting. Here, the round "shield" element is slightly concave and catches the light in ever-changing, fascinating ways...

There are some pieces of jewelry that simply defy any effort to photograph them. And this stunning Taxco modernist sterling silver and blue spinel hinged bangle is one of them - a really tough one at that too! I have faced this challenge once before in the past and the “culprit” is available here as well, only that one is by Enrique Ledesma and adorned with color-change sapphires...

How often does one find a ring by renowned Taxco modernist Enrique Ledesma? Let me answer my question - almost never! Over the years of my buying, selling and researching vintage Mexican silver jewelry, I have come upon a few examples, almost all of them adorned with a color-change sapphire. I had never seen a ring in the design I am presenting here until I discovered this one some time ago...

Hallmarks date this Hector Aguilar Fertility necklace 1948-1962. Collector quality, this piece is superbly crafted and lays perfectly on the neck. Links are hand wrought, deeply carved, with oxidized recesses and a beautiful patina. Measures a closed, wearable length of 16 1/2". Signed and hallmarked ".940 HA Taxco Mexico", with the eagle assay 9. Weight is 70.8 grams. In excellent vintage condition.

This mid-century Salvador Teran bracelet features a silver man in the moon and star which appears to be floating against the darkened background, framed in a silver bezel of varying sides and angles. It's a seldom seen design and a standout piece. Has a large presence on the wrist. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 1/2". Width in front is 1 5/8". Weight is 64.7 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Salvador Sterling Mexico", with the eagle assay 36 and design # 125.

This mid-century bracelet from Antonio Pineda is one of his most spectacular modernist designs. Referred to as his "Saturn", "Ball Bearing", or "Ball & Sphere" bracelet, it's a heavy chunky very substantial piece...

Excellent vintage Sigi sterling and jasper bangle with two hinges. Marked SIGI, STERLING, HECHO EN MEXICO, and with design number 244. C. 1960. This piece is pictured on page 198 of "Mexican Silver" by Morrill and Berk. With a slide clasp and safety catch. Substantial at 71 grams/2.5 ounces. An outstanding mid-century modern piece.

1 1/2 inches wide at center and 7 inches inside circumference. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Hallmarks date this Hector Aguilar necklace 1948-1962. It's a beautiful heavy hand-wrought necklace in a seldom seen design.

Composed of twenty-two panels which resemble a lyre, executed in .940 silver with a warm patina, this piece is collector quality.

Measures 16" closed, wearable length...

It's been a very long time since I offered a Mexican clamper bracelet and I am happy to be starting again with a classic Taxco design, this repousse and shadowbox "Quetzalcoatl" example. The maestro who signs it I am familiar with - he worked in Taxco and it seems that clamper bracelets were one of his favorite forms...

A vintage modernist sterling silver bracelet by Elis Kauppi for Kupittaan Kulta Oy, Turku Finland. A geometric design with rock crystals and spectrolite stones. Measures about 7" around. The central design measures 1 1/2" across and 2 1/2" long. Hook closure. In very nice condition with minor tarnish. Marked with the Anvil, Finland and 925S, the mark for Turku and Q7 for 1969. Great example of Scandinavian modernist jewelry.

This mid-century necklace from Antonio Pineda is an absolutely spectacular showpiece. It's composed of obsidian and silver, both in 5 point diamond shapes, which form a "V" in the front center. There is a pearl offset on the left front. This is a very rare piece, and it looks amazing on the wearer. The obsidian centerpiece is slightly curved so that it contours perfectly on the neck...

Confident in his prowess as a warrior and comfortable in his ceremonial attire this Margot de Taxco silver and enamel Aztec figure can be enjoyed both as a brooch as well as a pendant. Though experimentation with the art of enameling started while Margot was still part of the Los Castillo workshop, it was after her divorce with Antonio that she focused on perfecting it in her own, independent taller. And perfect it she did...

Circa mid-century, here is an iconic book-piece design from Margot van Voorhies Carr, who shop and work is known as Margot de Taxco.

Margot's design # 5554 is an exquisite and intricately detailed hand wrought serpent bracelet...