This book-piece design produced by Margot de Taxco is shown in "Margot Van Voorhies : The Art of Mexican Enamelwork" by Penny C. Morrill.
This Margot de Taxco design is known as "Silver Leaves", or sometimes "Leaf and Berries". It's a heavy gorgeous repoussé sterling silver clamper cuff bracelet. The silver leaves have oxidized recesses and beading, making this a standout piece. Collector quality, with a tight snappy hinge...
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"...
Classic and classy this fab Los Castillo necklace will astonish you with the way it feels and looks once you have it on. An iconic Taxco piece with its cascading festoon links and its playful teardrop repousse dangles the design draws from Mexico's long Spanish Colonial tradition. Much heavier than the unsigned imitations that surface from time to time, it wears like a dream and has a very strong visual effect...
Playing the violin with abandon as is evident by their determined expression, Margot de Taxco’s “musician putti” come here in earring form which is a rather rare occurrence. The specific angelic musician is usually found hanging off Margot’s charm bracelet of the same design, one out of a band of nine, and even though I have had the bracelet a few times in the past, this is the first pair of earrings I have found...
Offered on consignment.......
Circa mid-century, this is a rare and magnificent bracelet from Antonio Pineda.
It's a published book-piece design from Silver Seduction: The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda, p.119 - there shown with tiger's eye stones. This bracelet has marquise shaped amethyst gemstones which are gorgeous, set in open trapezoid panels. There is an incredible amount of work and skill which went into the execution of this piece...
This exceptional bracelet by Antonio Pineda has a unique design and was created during a brief period when he was in a collaboration with the taller Los Castillo to jointly produce jewelry (1962-1963). It is beautifully constructed with sculpted round links set with deep blue stones at the circles edge. It measures 6 7/8" long by 7/8" wide and weighs 44.5 grams. Hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco Crown, 970, Soc, Coop Sec, Los Castillo, and the eagle 58...
When it comes to classy Mexican jewelry, nobody can beat Margot de Taxco. Margot had that rare, innate ability to instinctively create elegant designs which defied the whims of fashion and remain as relevant today as they did when they first became available. The set of repousse earrings presented here is, I believe, a very good illustration of what I am trying to say. I have had pieces of her des...
Circa mid-century, here is a Margot de Taxco zodiac pendant bracelet with Taurus the Bull. It's her design #s 5310 and 5233, and it's collector quality.
It's a heavy, chunky, absolutely beautiful bracelet and one which shows up beautifully on the wrist.
Closed wearable length is 6 5/8". Taurus charm/pendant measures 1 13/16 to the top of the bale, 1 9/16" wide.
Weight is 97 grams...
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...
An absolutely extraordinary pair of vintage sterling cuff bracelets by Frank Patania Sr. from his Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, NM. Impeccable, precise craftsmanship and design speak in these pieces. Measuring 5 3/4" around in the inside plus an additional 1 1/4" opening, they are 2 1/2" wide and weigh 284 grams total. Only one of the cuffs is signed so will only be sold as a pair. Fine original condition and signed as shown. These are truly magnificent.
This is a spectacular bracelet from Antonio Pineda, one which is rarely seen, and a book-piece design from Silver Seduction.
Eight amethyst cabochons are set with a shadowbox effect with alternating trapezoid panels. The amethysts are gorgeous, perfectly matched in color, and the open-backed settings make them appear to glow from within...
Less-is-more would be the term I would use to describe this Carmen Beckmann modernist ring if it weren’t for that stone! Molten caramel golds fill the tiger’s eye slab almost in an ombre arrangement so that the ring changes the way it looks as the light that hits it changes...
Circa mid-century, this is a killer bracelet from Margot de Taxco. In absolutely pristine collector quality condition, complete with all nine charms.
It's a book-piece design shown on p. 63 of Penny C. Morrill's "Margot Van Voorhies : The Art of Mexican Enamelwork"...
A vintage enamelled sterling silver class ring from the High School of Commerce, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (merged 1966, now closed). This size 5-1/4 ring features the 5/8 x 7/16" enamel crest, and it weighs 2.5 grams. It is unmarked but tests as sterling and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, dents, bends, corrosion, losses, damage or repairs. All items are thoroughly and conservatively graded and all condition issues are noted; all items are vintage or antique and may have...
Chunky fine, .970 silver and gorgeous, appetizingly curvaceous tiger's eye spheres come together in this set of Mexican cufflinks by Taxco's renowned modernist, Antonio Pineda. The specific design is very popular in necklace and bracelet form but when it surfaces, it is usually with chrysoprase or aventurine or some other green stone. This is the first time I have seen it with tiger's eye and I have to admit, I love the combination. What I also find very tempting is that the cufflinks seem to ha...
This is an absolutely gorgeous necklace created by Nestor. The elaborate centerpiece measures 2 15/16" wide and features a huge lab created purple stone in a four pronged setting. Necklace measures a closed, wearable length of 17", and it lays perfectly on the neck. Signed and hallmarked "Nestor Hecho en Taxco 925 Sterling" with an eagle assay. Weight is 48.5 grams. In excellent vintage condition.
Circa mid-century, this is a spectacular set of bracelet and earrings from Sigi Pineda. Bracelet can be worn by either a man or woman.
The bracelet features a huge and gorgeous gold sheen obsidian stone, which measures just over 1 3/8" square. The stone was cut so that ribbons of gold sheen run on the diagonal. Bracelet is hinged on two sides to open nice and wide and easily fits over the wrist. Closure is a tight and secure slide in tongue in groove, and a safety latch. Matching earring...
Richly colored azur-malachite stone is paired with warmly glowing sterling in this chunky modernist Mexican silver bracelet signed by none other than the maestro of Piedra y Plata, Felipe Martinez. Martinez is one of my absolute favorite Taxco silversmith and a superb lapidary as well. He has an uncanny ability to pair silver with stone that works every single time, as if the two materials were just made to be together. Quite substantial, this specific design I have had in the past with amethyst...
A fine and vintage 1950s-60s signed Birks hand engraved sterling silver bangle bracelet. This bracelet has fine decoration on one half and it has a safety chain and box clasp. It measures 2-1/2 x 1-1/4" across the interior and 3/4" wide. It is stamped STERLING with the B in a hexagon Birks mark and it weighs 29.0 grams. This item is in excellent condition with no monograms, dents, bends, corrosion, losses, damage or repairs. All items are thoroughly and conservatively graded and all conditi...
The art of "metales casados" (mixed or married metals) was practiced by several Taxco workshops yet I think Victoria was its queen. Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti combined copper, silver and brass not only to design exquisite jewelry but also hollowware of various kinds and decorative objects. In the necklace presented here she seems to be inspired by Egyptian Revival motifs which is not unusual for her - there are at least a couple of other parures she created that tread that same path. Distinctly...
The combination of fine, high purity silver and moonstone is one of my favorite and was equally favored, it seems, by Antonio Pineda, Taxco's renowned modernist. Set in three-dimensional 970 silver settings the stones at hand have a luminous pearlescence that draws the eye into their magical depths, and perfectly reflect the warm glow of the precious metal surrounding them. Antonio's jewelry is characterized by an unfailing sense of easy luxury and that feeling is present here as well. Substanti...
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...
These earrings display mustard seeds with an pearl background. They are under glass which is bezel set in silvertone. The diameter of the glass is 1/2". They are both marked Coro and are in excellent condition.
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. The set of earrings presented here, a classic Taxco "flourish", can be combined with several of his sublime pectora...
This mid-century bracelet was produced by "RMM", and is based upon an Antonio Pineda design. I have the Antonio bracelet, with amethyst stones, listed in my shop.
It's a fabulous hand-wrought modernist piece, with twelve rectangular aventurine bars which are angled on the ends. Stones are all hand-carved and polished. The aventurine stones alternate with silver cones. This is a heavy and substantial bracelet which looks gorgeous on the wrist.
Weight is 107.5 grams.
Signed and hallmarked...
The "queen" of shadowbox designs, Victoria - otherwise Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti - also excelled in the "married metals" technique. Her work is inspired, of the highest quality and today it is considered part of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance design index. The adjustable sterling silver ring I am presenting here is out of her coveted "angel" parure. The form does not come up very often and I am happy to have come upon a beautifully aged example. Beading and black-as-pitch oxidation in the...
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. Wear it as ...
This bracelet is a seldom seen design from Sigi Pineda. It's a spectacular modernist piece with three faceted stones which graduate in size. At first glance the stones appear to be hematite, but they may well be onyx. Opens at the back nice and wide to easily fit over the wrist. Original safety chain attached. Closed, wearable length is 6 7/8". Width is 1 7/8". Weight is 91.3 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Sigi Tasco Made in Mexico Sterling", with the design #47 and the eagle assay 3. Col...
Exceptional sculptural, tactile sterling bracelet designed by the Swedish silversmith Rey Urban for the Danish company A. Fausing. Measuring 7 5/8" end to end, it is 1" wide and weighs 91 grams. The clasp interlocks and looks continuous on the wrist. All of the links move and are fluid when on. It is in fine original condition and signed as shown. Very industrial and architectural looking. A Modernist masterpiece !
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...
Offered on consignment.........
Circa mid-century, this is a seldom seen clamper cuff bracelet from Margot van Voorhies Carr / Margot de Taxco.
It's a truly spectacular clamper with superb craftsmanship. The repoussé silver design is chock full of swirls and flourishes and features a multi-dimensional nouveau foliate design with a tulip at the center
This piece is certainly one for the discerning collector of Mexican jewelry.
Fully closed, this measu...
This ring is quite lovely. The green enamel is perfect, depicting an abstract heart, or the head of a snake with large, green eyes (whichever suits your mood). The solid sterling silver band tapers from the pointed tip, as it wraps around. It is just under 1/2” at its widest. The inside is marked, “DAVID-ANDERSEN NORWAY STERLING 925S.” The basic size is a 7, but the band is slightly adjustable. This piece has good heft and is in excellent condition.
One of my absolute favorite designs by Gerardo Lopez, this silver and copper "mask" necklace I have sold a few times during my career as a vintage Mexican jewelry dealer and I never tire of it! There is so much to attract the eye here and every time you look at it, you spot something new and exciting. Meticulously cut ornate sterling "frames", oxidized and embellished with overlay, surround the highly sculptural copper "masks". Lopez's decision to flank the central "portrait" with smaller versio...
Here is a lovely pair of double-leaf, clipback earrings. The basse-taille enamel is a vivid, seafoam green. The earrings are marked with David Andersen hallmarks: the pair of scales, D-A 925 S STERLING NORWAY, with the designer’s mark (W inside a circle). (The clipback findings are marked “METALL” on the outside of the clip.) The earrings and their curvy, shiny leaves measure 1 3/8” x 1”. The pair is in excellent condition.
Circa mid-century, this necklace is exquisitely hand-wrought by noted Taxco silversmith Beto.
Deeply carved swirling silver panels alternate with polished half-cylinder shaped amethysts. The stones are gorgeous, with natural inclusions and quartz marbling.
Measures 15" closed, wearable length.
Weight is 52.7 grams.
Signed and hallmarked "Beto 925 Taxco GRO Sterling Hecho en Mexico".
In excellent vintage condition. Clasp is tight and secure.
Decorated with classic Nordic scene of a manned sled drawn by a moose in a snowy landscape, framed by a colorful aurora borealis. The enamel exposes nice guilloche work underneath, in a modified lozenge-shaped frame. The back bears the mark of Ivar T. Holth and the Norway mark for sterling silver. The silver is gilded. The pin measures 1 3/8 inches long by 7/8 inch wide. Weight: 5.7 grams
Abstract sterling silver ring by Danish designer Jacob Hull for B&D, circa 1970s. The top of the ring measures 1 1/8" x 7/8". Marked "Denmark, Sterling, Jacob Hull, B&D," and with a hallmark. Adjustable, currently size 6.5. Weighs 14 grams.
Sleek modernism and heavy sterling combine in this Sigi Pineda bracelet which seems to be one of the maestro’s earlier creations and a relatively harder piece to find as well. Perfect finishing, generous weight, a blissful marriage of glistening silver and dark oxidation and inspired design, all features that make Sigi jewelry exceptional can be seen at work here. What a beauty indeed… The bracelet has a 6 3/4” inner circumference (clasped)and its width varies between 1 1/16″ and 5/8"....
I never tire of the double-sided pendant necklaces Victor Jaimez created for Emma Melendez. The perfect blend of Aztec Revival and modernismo Mexicano, they are unfailingly characterized by craftsmanship of the highest level and meticulous finishing. At the same time dramatic and awe-inspiring, the pendant's two sides showcase several techniques as overlay, oxidation and mozaico inlay come together to create the image of Quetzalcoatl and the abstract figure of a Meso-american monkey. The chain ...
Attributions are a difficult issue in the world of vintage Mexican silver jewelry - they are almost never accepted. If a piece is not signed, it’s just not signed! In this case, however, I will put my years of experience behind my suggestion that the necklace I am presenting here is the work of Reveriano Castillo. When I acquired it, it had no clasp and since the specific Reveri design is usually marked exactly there, the connection to its maker was lost. I had my jeweler craft a fold-over cla...
Dating in the earlier period of Matilde Poulat’s extraordinary career, the cross pendant presented here is adorned with Matl’s favorite stones - turquoise, amethyst and coral. Inspired by Mexico’s rich folk art, it belongs in her daringly eye-catching series of “jeweled” creations but here, there is an additional motif that makes the pendant even more precious. Namely, the two small repousse angel dangles, facing each other in a kneeling position with lit candles in their hands. The st...
This heavy chain link bracelet with a turquoise tipped toggle is the work of Antonio Pineda.
It's a stunning piece, composed of fifteen thick wide links of almost pure 97% silver. A very substantial bracelet which drapes over the wrist and look amazing. Classic, modernist, edgy.
Measures just under 9" end to end, with a closed, wearable length of about 6 1/2 - 6 3/4".
Weight is 107.2 grams.
Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, 970, and the eagle assay 3.
In excellen...
Nice and long at 27 1/2", this mid-century Antonio Pineda pendant necklace features a starburst design pendant with turquoise colored stones. The pendant itself measures 2 1/2" tall, just under 2" wide.
Both pendant and chain are marked with with Antonio Taxco crown, and the chain can be worn on its own or with another pendant. Please see pics for additional hallmarks.
Weight is 50.5 grams.
In excellent vintage condition.
On Consignment.
Authentic David Andersen silver enamel sea horse pin with 3 shades of enamel-- light purple, lilac, and deep purple. Hallmarked on back (see photo). Enamel work with basse taille flower detail visible underneath enamel. Length is approx 2.25 inches long, 1.4 inches wide. All enamel intact, excellent condition.
Matching the set of earrings that is also available in my store (you can see the demi together in two of the photos) this Mexican silver and azur-malachite ring by maestro Felipe Martinez is an ode to the power of color. Striking greens and dark, rich blues delight the eye while the elegance of the sterling ring shoulders complement in the best possible way the magic of the stone. Currently a sz because of the size it comes with (easily removed) the ring is an sz 7 (can also be easily resized). ...
This iconic masterpiece is the work of Antonio Pineda. It's a necklace which draws attention immediately to the wearer. Circa mid-century, executed in 970 silver, this lays perfectly upon the neck. Ten moonstone cabochons dangle from scalloped silver links, sitting in silver open-backed bezels. The stones glow from within - really beautiful moonstones. Tongue in box clasp is topped with a round domed moonstone which you push down on to open.
Measures a closed, wearable length of 1...
After working for Spratling in Las Delicias and Hector Aguilar in Taller Borda, Reveriano Castillo opened his shop Reveri in 1952 with the co-operation of his wife, Maria. His jewelry is known for its impeccable finishing and the good quality of materials used so I am always happy to come upon one of his creations. The set of earrings at hand in an abstract floral design with articulated stamen dangle is as sweet-as-can-be and ideal to celebrate the coming of Spring this year. Measuring
1 3/4...
This is a gorgeous modernist Mexican bracelet from Salvador Teran. I have the matching necklace listed in my shop, bottom photo shows both pieces.
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.
It's a v...
Bigger in size than the most frequently encountered version of the specific design and executing a different step, this vintage Margot de Taxco “ballerina” brooch is Mexico’s contribution to the ballet craze started by Van Cleef et Arpels in the 1940s, with the issuance of their gem-studded “ballerina” jewelry. And even though we don’t have sparkling diamonds and fine gold here, the sense of harmony and serenity our long-, slender-armed dancer seems to exude is equally precious and h...
Here’s a brightly colored, basse-taille enameled peacock charm: feathers fully fanned. Peacocks add to the beautiful colors of Mexico, roaming about freely. The back of the charm is marked “MEXICO 925” and eagle “15” mark. Although eagle number “15” was used by such famous silversmiths as Los Castillo and Antonio Pineda, this piece was very, very likely to have been made by Castelan who used only eagle number “15” and did some work with silver and enamel (although, he worked ...
This bold and edgy Margot de Taxco bracelet is heavy and very substantial, with wide incised oxidized recesses. It's a design which is not often seen and most certainly a statement piece.
Will fit up to a 7 1/8 wrist, and has a width of 2 1/8".
Weight is 121.2 grams.
Signed and hallmarked with a partial Margot de Taxco "De Taxco", Hecho en Mexico 925, with the eagle assay 16 and design # 5634.
In excellent vintage condition. No safety chain, but loo...
Saturated blues and greens juxtaposed to the warm glow of well-aged silver soften the austere geometry of this Los Castillo modernist cuff bracelet. Out of the workshop’s “mozaico Azteca” line which celebrates the art of seamless inlay, the cuff is also showcasing the beauty of azur-malachite. There is nothing superfluous here - economy of design, honesty of materials and craftsmanship of the highest level combine in a visual power-house, a piece of mid-century wearable art. The cuff has a...
Hallmarks date 1948-1962. Three chrysocolla stones and an edgy geometric design combine to make this a very unique bracelet. Easy to wear and very comfortable on the wrist, this piece goes with just about any outfit and occasion. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 1/2". Width is just over 1/2". Signed and hallmarked "HA .940 Taxco Mexico", with the eagle assay 9. Weight is 44.1 grams. In excellent vintage condition.
This mid-century bracelet was produced by Antonio Pineda. It's a superb piece with a sleek modernist design, a mirror-like finish, and ten gorgeous oval amethyst cabochons. It's a bracelet which works equally well with dressy or casual wear.
The amethyst gemstones are bezel-set at the center of thick square silver panels in such a way as to appear to float. Executed in 970 silver, almost pure silver, the push button clasp is topped with an amethyst, giving a completely seamless appearance whe...
Being offered is a superb and exceedingly rare circa 1968 gold modernist ring by Antonio Pineda of Taxco, Mexico, the bypass design of yellow gold with pink gold wire accent mounted in 14k gold. Size is illustrated - 6 1/2. Stamped 14k and Pineda Marked. In excellent condition. 13.8 grams. Rare rare rare!!
Signed by a listed but still unidentified Taxco maestro, this pair of exuberant sterling silver chandelier earrings is set with some of the most vibrant turquoise teardrops I have seen. Yet it is not just the stones that elevate it above and beyond your everyday earrings. The silver-work is equally gorgeous, the hand-cut and deeply chased frames given "body" with just a tad of repoussage and wisely applied oxidation. And did I mention that color in the turquoise??? Measuring
1 7/8" long (incl...
This is a superb modernist bird pin from Antonio Pineda. It's large, dimensional, and substantial, with tiny beading and an obsidian eye. A design which is seldom seen, and collector quality. Measures 2 3/4" wide. Weight is 39.8 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco Crown, Hecho en Mexico 970, with the eagle assay 17. In excellent vintage condition. Pin closes with a roller.
Tone Vigland modernist sterling silver ring
Norway
Mid 20th century
Size - 6 1/2
Weight - 21 grams
Front - 1" x 1"
Hallmarks pictured
Excellent condition
Felipe Martinez opened his shop, "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. A former sculptor who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, Martinez was known for his work with beautiful stones which melded seamlessly into his silver designs. This bracelet is an exquisite example of what he was known best for.
It's a thick and substantial piece, with six silver panels - each having three sections of azurite stone inlay. This inlay work requires a great deal of time and skill, and the superb craftsmanship i...
Felipe Martinez opened his shop, "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. A former sculptor who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, Martinez was known for his work with beautiful stones which melded seamlessly into his silver designs.
This bracelet features five chrysocolla stones with a trapezoidal shape alternating with concave silver panels. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box, with a safety chain. The stones are absolutely gorgeous, with various shades of green and copper. The silver is...