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"...

Classic in its elegance and the delicate filigree work that embellishes it, this vintage silver and sodalite pendant necklace dates in the first decades of the 20th c. and I believe it is an Italian piece. Very similar to work that came out of the Peruzzi and Coppini workshops of Florence, the necklace is anonymous yet exhibits very high levels of craftsmanship and its finishing is impeccable...

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...

This mid-century necklace is an absolutely stunning piece, with deeply incised swirling links, silver domes, and tiny silver beading. Exquisitely hand-crafted and collector quality. Looks fabulous on and lays perfectly upon the neck. No maker's mark, but the design itself, along with #54, indicate that this is likely the work of Reveriano Castillo. Measures 15 1/2" closed, wearable length...

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"...

This is a gorgeous necklace from Margot de Taxco, her design # 5240. An early piece, featuring winged panels with brass domes and tiny beading. Absolutely fabulous condition, with no dents, dings, or dimples to any of the domes. Measures a closed, wearable length of about 15 1/2". 3/4" tall. Weight is 79.5 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Margot de Taxco 5240 Sterling Made in Mexico", with the eagle assay 16. Collector quality.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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, 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 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...

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...

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 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.

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.

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....

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 ...

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.

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...

$385.00 Circa pre-1948, this is a superb deco design from noted Mexican silversmith ACE. I have had this exact design with onyx stones produced by Felipe Martinez with the eagle assay. This necklace, with gorgeous red stones, is an earlier piece. Measures a closed, wearable length of 16". The centerpiece is 2 1/2" tall. Weight is 74.3 grams. Signed and hallmarked "ACE 925 Hecho en Mexico Guadalajara. In excellent vintage condition. One or two very tiny fleabites seen with a lou...

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...

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...

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.

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...

An Edwardian gilt silver ("vermeil") locket enhanced with bright turquoise blue guilloche enamel. The starburst design of the champleve is enhanced with gilt accents in the enamel. The locket retains the original insert frames on both sides. Stamped with English hallmarks; the city mark is obscured, so we can't be certain of the exact date letter, but we believe it to be 1917.

• England, ca 1917
• Excellent condition; no enamel damage
• Dimensions: 1" diameter
• Weight:...

Dating in the first decades of the 20th c. this Italian Renaissance Revival necklace is wrought in .800 silver and adorned with flat-cut and cabochon sodalite. In the same style as “Grand Tour” jewelry popularized by the Peruzzi and Coppini houses in Florence, this piece features grape clusters and leaves while also showcasing shell, floral garland and rosette links in its ornate chain. Good casting and beautiful patina render the design three-dimensional and I do love the unexpected brown s...

Very cool sterling silver cuff bracelet made in 1971 in Sweden. The interior is smooth, and the exterior is textured. The light hitting the soft lines makes the piece apears always in motion. Hallmarked and signed: "GK," V9, Sterling, Sweden." Adjustable. 1.75" at the widest.

A symbol of good luck, abundance and contentment the “laughing Buddha” medallions adorning the links of this Chinese silver bracelet are carved out of turquoise and have rich detail. Slightly graduated in size the are held against classic Deco tight mesh panels overlaid with filigree tendrils, tiny beading and delicate plants in full bloom. The stone’s blueish green hue soothes the eye and its natural matrix enhances the medallions’ sculpturality. The bracelet has an inner circumference ...

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. absolutely no issues whatsoever.

Fully closed, t...

Circa 1930's-40's, this hand-wrought necklace is hallmarked with a simple early mark "Silver Mexico". I have previously had the identical design which was produced by Rafael Dominguez, as well I've seen it with the Antonio Pineda early mark. Twenty-seven lyre shaped panels are linked together with rectangular connectors topped with a copper bead set in the center of two silver beads. The looped hook closure is topped with four beads, copper alternating with silver. The lyre panels are deep...

With hallmarks dating 1953-1962, this pin was produced by Hector Aguilar.

This is an outstanding piece, and one which I have never seen before. This gorgeous bird has at it's center a large round bezel-set onyx cabochon. Open-back repoussé silver tail feathers, win, and head extend from the center.

Measures 3 3/16" long, 1 5/8" wide.

Weight is 19.6 grams.

Signed and hallmarked .940 HA Taxco along with the eagle assay 9.

In excellent vintage...

The early hallmarks on this brooch date 1940-1945. This pin was designed by Valentin Vidaurreta. Shown with onyx stones on p.79, II-12 in "Silver Masters of Mexico", also noted in this book is that Vidaurreta produced work both in his own workshop and at the Taller Borda, and that the pieces sold at Taller Borda were marked with the HA mark until the 1950's. This is an outstanding piece, large, exquisitely hand-crafted, and collector quality. Four tulips with amethyst centers are gently c...

Circa 1930's, this Fred Davis pin is very striking, with a design which I've not seen previously. The craftsmanship is superb with exquisite repoussé silver work. Measures 2 11/16" tall, 2" wide. Weight is 25.3 grams. Signed and hallmarked with a conjoined FD Made in Mexico Silver. In excellent vintage condition. Pin closes with a simple early spiral C clasp, and is very secure.

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...

One of the most interesting - and few - female figures of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance, Doris Smith Chamberlin was a Texas-born American who decided to move to Mexico in the 1940s to open her own workshop after having completed post-graduate studies in art and having taught woodworking, textile-making and silver-smithing for a few years in California (I am grateful to Decotini for the information). In Mexico City, where she settled, she created and sold her own designs but also commission...

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. All other pieces in the parure (necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings) can be found relatively easi...

I acquired this pair of Miguel Melendez’s hinged bangles as a set some time ago and after long deliberations, I decided that they should continue in life as such. Miguel is one of Taxco’s modernists yet he honed his skills at Spratling’s Las Delicias and working for Margot de Taxco for many years. This specific design is a favorite of mine’s by him - it brings to mind rock formations and I love the interplay of negative and positive space. I am also attracted to the specific stone that ...

Crafted in the late 1950s or in the 1960s, this sterling silver Mexican necklace is signed by Victoria or Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti. Victoria is one of the few female designers and silversmiths of Taxco’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance that we know of and she is credited, among others, for perfecting the “metales casados” or “married metals” technique. In this necklace, however, she adds a modernist twist to an otherwise “archeological” design. I cannot exactly pinpoint what it is th...

Every now and again, I will bump into a piece of Mexican jewelry incorporating an ancient artifact. Be that clay masks, carved little effigies or beads, they are always a treat and a source of great excitement. And when that piece is also signed by one of the big Taxco workshops, like the bracelet at hand, then it’s a real holiday! Out of their “mixed metals” line, this Los Castillo silver, brass and copper hinged bracelet is literally built around an amazing, silky smooth agate bead. Dark...

Known for their high quality of holloware primarily, Ingrid's remains even today one of those elusive actors in the story of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance. Active in the 1930s and 1940s, as Bille Hougart reports, this retailer seems to have been the venue through which well-known maestros like Chato Castillo sold some of their creations. Based on my experience I can say that jewelry bearing their signature is not very often encountered but when it pops up, it is always on big, bold and bea...

Tane Orfebres is an important silver house in Mexico City, known as the Tiffany of Mexico. This bracelet is wide, heavy, and gorgeous. It has a sleek modernist design, with the one half shiny and mirror like, and the opposite half bearing a slightly matte finish. I have never seen this design before, and it is a stunning bracelet. Signed and hallmarked "Tane Sterling Mexico", with an "A" within a triangle. No eagle assay on this one, but I believe it to be 1953-1980. This will fit up to...

This early Matl pin is an exceptional piece, with a beautiful oval turquoise at front and center. The hand-wrought repoussé silver has a warm patina. Measures 2 3/16" x 1 1/4" at the center. Weight is 19.6 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Matl" in script. Closes with a "c" clasp. Collector quality.

These earrings produced by Hector Aguilar are a book-piece design, shown p. 87 Silver Masters of Mexico. They have a stunning deco design, with bell shaped pendants which are deeply incised. The recesses are oxidized, and 5 pendants dangle below. Screwbacks work perfectly. These measure 2 1/2" long, 1 1/16" wide. Weight is 19.4 grams. Signed and hallmarked "HA 940 Taxco" with the eagle assay 9. Collector quality.

This Antonio Pineda brooch is a superb modernist design featuring three amethyst "peas" in a "pod". Beautifully executed in 97% pure silver, this pin is collector quality. Measures 3 1/2" long, with a hefty weight of 29.7 grams. Pin closes with a roller. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, Hecho en Mexico 970 Silver, with the eagle assay 17 and design # PR571.

Circa mid-century, this is a fabulous necklace and a real attention grabber. Measuring 4 3/4" wide at the top of the centerpiece, 2 5/8" wide at the bottom, it's a huge piece which lays beautifully upon the neck and frames it perfectly. The repoussé panels have silver domes graduating in size. Recesses are oxidized. Signed and hallmarked "SrC Taxco Mexico Sterling", with the eagle assay 3. Measures a closed, wearable length of 18". Weight is 95.6 grams. In excellent vintage c...

Handmade sterling silver keychain or watch fob designed (1940's) and signed by Taxco, Mexico artist Hector Aguilar (1905-1986). Belt slide is 1 1/2" X 1". Sterling chain is 17" long. 1.7 oz., 48 grams. Sterling key holder opens and closes perfectly. No dents or dings. Applied initials can be easily removed. Pictured on page 103 of SILVER MASTERS OF MEXICO by Penny Morrill. Great gift idea. US Priority mail shipping and insurance included.

I know and admire maestro C. Molina's work for its superb craftsmanship and its monumentality but I was still not prepared for this set of stupedying dangle earrings! There is big, there is massive and then, there is the pair of shadowbox stunners I am presenting here tonight. Maestro Molina excelled in the application of the shadowbox technique which allowed him to create jewelry which are generous in proportions and convey a dramatic sense of depth while at the same time being light and easy t...

This necklace was produced by P. Ochoa in Mexico City during the 1930's - 1940's. One seldom comes across the work of this silversmith, whose work closely mirrors that of Matilde Poulat. This necklace is hand-wrought with a carved onyx face/mask sitting within a highly detailed repoussé headdress. The centerpiece measures 1 13/16" x 1 15/16". End to end, which is also closed, wearable length, measures 21". Weight is 63.4 grams. Signed and hallmarked "P Ochoa 925 M". Collector...

Circa mid-century, this clamper was hand-wrought by Los Castillo, and it is spectacular. Wide, large, heavy, and collector quality. The snail shell design has graduated beading which curves gently around the sides. Very substantial, with a weight of 104.4 grams. Hinge looks to be old and original, and it's super tight and snappy. Couldn't be more perfect. Recesses are oxidized, giving depth which makes this a standout piece. Fully closed this will fit up to a 6 1/2" wrist. Width is 2 1/4"....

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.

These Antonio Pineda earrings have a silver wave design with emerald cut amethysts. Bearing the "Silver by Tono" hallmark which was used 1948-1953, this deco design is rarely seen. Each earring features four channel set amethyst gemstones, all well matched in color. The repoussé silver settings require the most skilled of silversmiths. Exquisitely crafted and oh so elegant. Measures 1" x 7/8". Signed and hallmarked "Silver by Tono", "Made in Mexico", with the eagle assay 17. Weight ...