This cross necklace was produced by Matilde Poulat in Mexico City between 1934-1948. It's an early Matl creation and an exquisite piece. At the center is a coral cabochon, surrounded by branch coral, turquoise, and pyramidal amethysts. The sterling silver chain does not open, measuring 25" long...

Circa 1950's, this bold, edgy cuff from Bernice Goodspeed is a book-piece design shown on p. 132 of the Morrill/Berk book "Mexican Silver".

It's a hand-wrought piece with an intricate deeply carved design and an oxidized background. This is a fabulous bracelet, and one which is rarely seen.

It's a large cuff, measuring 5 3/4" inside edge-to-edge, with an opening/gap of an additional 1 1/2". Width is 2 9/16"...

An elegant pendant worked in 18K yellow gold and sterling silver by DeBeers Award winning jewelry designer John Atencio. The pendant features a square cushion cut amethyst surrounded by pave-set round brilliant cut diamonds. The amethyst has strong purple coloring, and the use of concave facets creates are very lively brilliance in the stone stone. The diamonds are of good quality, averaging J color and SI clarity. The setting is finely detailed with niello accents...

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"...

Hallmarks date this William Spratling brick link bracelet to 1940-1944. This design is shown on the Spratling Silver website. It's a hand-wrought bracelet which feels like silk on the wrist. Certainly a timeless design, and one which is understated in both beauty and elegance. Three rows of brick like links with a foldover clasp give this a completely seamless appearance...

Circa 1930's-early 1940's, this magnificent amethyst ring is the work of Abraham Paz. Paz produced and designed work for himself, as well as for Fred Davis. This is a gorgeous piece, with a huge hand cut and polished amethyst and deco sterling silver setting. The face of the ring measures 1 1/16" x 13/16", and sits 7/16" high above the finger. The ring size measures between 6 and 7 on a sizer, depending on which way the ring is placed. I've taken photos of both...

Wonderful deep carving on this sterling silver bracelet, signed by artist, titled "The Bear", 1970s era. Measures 1 1/8" deep, is 6 1/4" on the outside, with a gap of 1 3/8", and is slightly flexible. In the traditional Northwest Coast form, the bracelet is curved, with abstracted form lines creating a cultural figure, in this case, a bear. The work is especially fine, very deep carving with cross hatching and detailing over the entire surface...

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...

Circa pre-1948, this is a spectacular hand-wrought bracelet. It's an exquisitely crafted piece with superb repoussé silver work. Very substantial and dimensional. The amethyst cabochons are well-matched in color. Closure is a pin on a chain . Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 3/4", with a width just shy of 1 1/2". Hallmarked simply "Mexico Silver". Weight is 86.1 grams. In excellent vintage condition.

The "Jewels by Antonio" hallmarks dates 1949-1953. This is a book-piece design shown on page 152 of Silver Seduction : The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda.

It's a fabulous ring with a huge presence. Size is 8.25. Height on top is just shy of 1/2". 1" wide.

Weight is a substantial 17.3 grams.

Signed and hallmarked "Jewels by Antonio Taxco Mexico", with the design # PP451.

In excellent vintage condition. Collector quality. Beautiful patina.

A cute, diminutive Victorian fob seal in the form of a silver toga-clad monkey sitting atop a gold base. His eyes are set with tiny cabochon garnets. The base is formed from a faceted carnelian and has never been engraved. Tested and guaranteed silver and 18K.

Origin: Probably France, ca. 1860. Condition: excellent, all original, no engraving on seal. Dimensions: 9/16” x 7/16” x 1” tall. Weight: 4.2 gr.

Produced by Enrique Ledesma, this bracelet features four large golden sheen obsidian stones which seem to glow from within. The alternating repoussé silver panels have oxidized recesses, and the tongue in box closure is tight and perfect. Original safety chain is attached. This will fit up to a 6 1/4" wrist. The width is 15/16". Weight is 54.6 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Ledesma Plateria Cortes 925 Taxco Hecho en Mexico", with the eagle assay 6 and design # 401...

One of the techniques the Los Castillo workshop pioneered, “pluma Azteca” uses dyed bird feathers as inlay to adorn jewelry and other decorative items. Quite impressive in their colorful vibrancy, the feathers can also be vulnerable, especially when they are left exposed, resulting in a rather small number of “pluma” jewelry having survived over the years. The articulated torque-type necklace at hand is a wonderful exception...

Bearing the signature of Pedro Castillo who opened his own workshop in 1940, after having worked for both William Spratling and Hector Aguilar this early Taxco modernist necklace is made using the overlay technique which has also been enhanced by purposeful oxidation. Perfectly finished, it has generous weight and at just a hair less than 16", it is not only a gorgeous piece to wear but it is quite comfortable. Let me end by saying that its abstract design, so representative of Taxco's early mod...

A delightful late Victorian or Edwardian pendant in the form of a poodle jumping through a hoop. The wonderfully detailed poodle is cast in sterling silver and the hoop is 14K gold. The dog is fully three-dimensional, and the eyes are set with small pyrope garnets. The pendant is marked “14K Sterling.”

• Origin: America, ca. 1910
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1-9/16” x 3/8” x 1-1/4”
Weight: 11.2 grams

I have never seen cuff links these. They are made of obsidian with an abstract wheel design. The disks have a diameter of just over 1/2". The silver "wheels" are not just applied, they are connected to the back plate which is marked with the eagle, #9 and VALENTIN with a line extending from the top of the V, over all the letters. These unusual cuff links have a good heft and are in excellent condition. I believe they are circa early 1950's.

This huge pin is the work of Taxco designer Hubert Harmon. Harmon was active for a short time, and this piece bears hallmarks dating 1944-1948. Collector quality, this is a hand-wrought brooch with exquisite repoussé silver work and a gorgeous bow and ribbon design. Hubert Harmon's work is seldom seen, with his sterling pieces quite rare. Measures 4" long, 2 1/8" wide. Weight is 30.8 grams - quite substantial. Signed and hallmarked "Hubert Harmon Sterling Made in Mexico". In exce...

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

One of Taxco’s two “Miguels”, Miguel Melendez started his career with William Spratling at Las Delicias, moved on to work with the Los Castillo and later Margot de Taxco and in the early 1950s opened his own workshop. A talented modernist with deep roots in Mexico’s rich archaeological history, he loved combining silver with hard- and semi-precious stones and excelled in two-sided pendants that married stone or shell inlay with abstract overlay on highly oxidized surfaces. The figural pi...

A smashing duo in the index of mid-20th century Mexican jewelry design, Cecilia and Tono have created some of the most amazing pieces. More often than not their creations are re-interpretations of ancient motifs with a modernist twist and adaptations of old techniques and materials to fit their contemporary vision. In the long chain necklace presented here hefty sterling links lend their mod geometry to silver spheres and rich azur-malachite beads that have been cut in emulation of ancient bi-co...

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 ...

One of the most successful duo in Taxco’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance, Cecilia and Tono excelled in some of the most difficult techniques in jewelry making like piedra negra, metales casados and mozaico Azteca. Their jewelry is usually modernist yet their designs unfailingly reference Mexico’s rich archeological heritage. I particularly love their “mask” pieces, especially their rings that do not come up very often and I am thrilled to have come upon the tiger’s eye example presented h...

A carefully crafted copy of one of Hubert Harmon's Mexican designs, this fabulous sterling silver and amethyst belt buckle is anonymous yet, as quite often is the case, the lack of a signature does not affect the piece's quality and beauty. Based on the workmanship I suspect this may be a Casa Maya example. Casa Maya issued many of Harmon's designs in brass primarily yet they did make them in sterling as well and quite often pieces in their parures went out in the marked without full hallmarks. ...

Bold and striking long sterling screw back earrings designed by Karl Gustav Hansen for Hans Hansen of Denmark. These earrings are from the "Future" line of jewelry manufactured by Hans Hansen between 1932 and 1948. They hang 2 1/2" long, weigh 15 grams total and are signed as shown. Statement earrings.

Breath-taking both in proportions and its masterfully executed repoussage this sterling silver Mexican Deco belt buckle is simply unbelievable. Its two mirrored parts represent Quetzalcoatl, the divine Moesoamerican Feathered Serpent, a motif which appears quite often in vintage Mexican silver jewelry. I have seen this specific design in buckle form signed by Doris in the past - my example is hallmarked yet not for maker and though the lack of signature is always vexing, it does not at all affec...

A twist to Margot de Taxco's classic all silver zodiac pendant / charms this sinewy Sagittarius rises above a background of multicolored confetti enamel. A true feast for the eyes, the archer faces the viewer but has his head turned to the right in the direction of his outstretched bow-holding arm. I love these enameled examples by Margot because the confetti, especially the primarily blue / green version like here, reminds me of clear nights when thousands of twinkling stars light up the skies....

Bold, colorful and generously long this vintage Mexican chain necklace is signed by Cecilia and Tono, one of Taxco's most successful duos. The combination of chunky amethyst, slender sterling tubes and lozenge stations embellished with azur-malachite inlay is undoubtedly eye-catching and I love the irregular shape of the stone beads which underscores their hand-cut quality. Wear it alone or combine it with similar pieces, the result will be stunning either way. The necklace measures 31 1/4" lon...

A sterling silver hand wrought brooch by the mid century modernist studio jeweler, Ruth Berridge, (1921-2004). Looks like rows of randomly placed flattened pebbles. Curved for a multidimensional effect. Measures about 2 3/8" across and 1 1/2" high. Hand signed © Ruth Berridge, Handmade Sterling on the back. Rollover clasp holds securely. Fine condition with minor surface scratches and a little tarnish. This piece is from her estate. Classic Ruth Berridge design.

A fine Art Deco sterling silver pendant necklace by famed illustrator and jewelry designer McClelland Barclay. The square pendant shows a water lily and lily pad along with several buds in a stylized form. The pendant is suspended from its original silver chain. The reverse is marked "Sterling Silver" and is signed "McClelland Barclay".

Barclay was a noted illustrator, famous for his pin-up style advertisements for General Motors and for Hollywood movies. At the onset of World War II, he v...

The combination of fine purity silver with silky, shimmering pearls is among my favorite when it comes to Antonio Pineda’s work. And the modernist floral brooch I am presenting here is a superb example not only of the renowned Taxco maestro’s exceptional sense of design but also of the quality of materials he used. I love the fluid, curvaceous body of the elongated “pod” and the tender forcefulness (I know, a contradiction in terms, right?) with which the stamens emerge out of it. Slick ...

Bold and striking long sterling earrings designed by Karl Gustav Hansen for Hans Hansen of Denmark. These earrings are from the "Future" line of jewelry manufactured by Hans Hansen between 1932 and 1948. They hang 2 5/8" long, are 3/4" wide at the bottoms and are screw backs. The backs could easily be changed to posts for pierced ears.Weighing 11 grams total, they are in fine original condition and signed as shown. A fabulous Modernist design that look great on the ear.

I love pearls and when they are nested in an Antonio Pineda fine silver modernist setting, I consider myself in heaven! All the more so when it’s three glorious, softly shimmering pearls we are talking about. Graduated in size and each one a different hue, they are comfortably sitting in their precious channel, as if their only concern is to showcase the variety of nacre colors. The ring is a sz 8 1/2 US and 7/16” wide. It weighs 12.2 grams and is signed with Antonio's crown as shown alongs...

One of the most talented, innovative maestros of Mexico’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance, Jose Luis Flores created some amazing designs that were sold not only under his own name but bore the hallmarks of Miguel Martinez, Emma Melendez and Rubi Ramirez as well. His slick designs, obviously influenced by modernist principles, are imaginative; the finishing on his jewelry flawless and their appeal timeless - no wonder he was the genius behind many pieces that came out in the market with Hector Aguil...

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...

This mid-century bracelet is a superb hand-wrought piece produced by Miguel Garcia Martinez for Rancho Alegre. Plateria Rancho Alegre opened in 1956 by Pedro Pérez. Pérez had been a shop manager for William Spratling prior to establishing Rancho Alegre. The shop carried work from many designers and silversmiths. Miguel Garcia Martinez was the primary designer. This is a huge bracelet, with intricate, exquisitely executed silverwork and a multi-dimensional Pre-Columbian warrior design. ...

This elegant Sterling Silver bracelet by Margot de Taxco has an Art Deco feel with slightly curved links that wrap around your wrist. Measures 8" long, 7/8" wide and weighs 46.6 grams. Hallmarked Margot de Taxco, Sterling Made in Mexico, 5646A with the eagle 16. Very well made with a secure clasp and safety chain. An elegant, lovely bracelet with timeless appeal.