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...

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. Melange enamel sits within tiny scales in the segmented articulated links...

Circa mid-century, here is a very seldom seen book-piece design from Antonio Pineda.

Shown on page 148 of Gobi Stromberg's "Silver Seduction : The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda", this is a magnificent bracelet with a stunning modernist design. Composed of eight thick sleek rectangular links which have bezel-set carnelian gemstones, each with a silver disc rising from the center. It's a very unusual piece, and a real attention grabber...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

This rare find is a cross pendant, decorated with maracsites and a central ruby. It measures 1 1/4" x 7/8". The back is marked STERLING 925 with amark in the middle. It also has an eagle mark that looks like # 36; but, I cannot be sure. It is in excellent condition.

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...

Beautiful geometric design bracelet with a center genuine amethyst stone. Circa 1960. Marked LOS CASTILLO, TAXCO, design number 5, and with the eagle assay mark. Slide clasp. It weighs 78 grams. The center element holds a very large oval faceted amethyst, the shape of which is echoed by the two silver layers which frame it. The center element and the clasp are hinged and articulated. From a collection. 1 3/8 inches wide at the center and 6 1/2 inches wearable length...

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...

Delicate and quite romantic with their Spanish Colonial bows and a half-hidden heart motif this set of Los Castillo earrings is elegant and nostalgic at the same time. Crisp finishing and a beautifully glowing patina complete the "package" - I will let the photos say the rest while I provide the specifics: 1 3/8" long by 1 1/8" wide, weighing 11.2 grams (for the set). Fully signed with maker's name as well as "TAXCO" and Eagle 15 assay mark...

With hallmarks dating 1955-1962, this bracelet from Hector Aguilar is nothing short of spectacular.

It's a hand-wrought piece, with three huge oval azurite stones separated by silver twisted barbells. The back is a long silver ID bar, with the closure tongue sliding into it. Tight, secure, perfect.

This is a book piece design, shown in Penny C. Morrill's "Silver Masters of Mexico". However, this one is quite rare, having three large stones instead of five smaller ones.

A classic design for renowned Taxco modernist Enrique Ledesma, this set of vintage sterling silver Mexican mid-century earrings comes with clips and is set with green inlay, possibly azur-malachite or some kind of agate. There is nothing fussy about the pair - good, honest materials, clarify of form and fluidity of lines. Isn't that the essence of modernism? Measuring 1 1/8" tall by 3/4" wide the earrings weigh 9.8 grams (for the set) and are fully and appropriately signed with maker's name as ...

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...