Catalog: Archives: Estate Jewelry (468)

The Los Castillo taller is renowned for their revival of several ancient Maya and Aztec silversmithing techniques and the breath of creative fresh air they brought into Taxco jewelry making. Their Mozaico Azteca line, in which they seamlessly combinedinlaid azur malachite with sterling silver is, in my opinion, one of their best moments...

A book piece and one of the most impressive designs in Sigi Pineda's "boomerang" line this bracelet is adorned with a wire-wrapped, polished tiger's eye gem - I have seen it with amethyst and chrysoprase as well as with black onyx and have one of the latter in my inventory presently (just look for item no 1108655 here on Troc!). One of the two big maestros of Mexican modernist design, Sigi loves the way oxidized surfaces stand out against the warm glow of silver and he definitely illustrates ...

A gorgeous repousse clamper bracelet by Gerardo Lopez wrought in sterling silver, this is a perfect match for the necklace by the same artist available in my inventory - you can see the two pieces together in the next to last photo. Exceptionally well made, its quality reflects Lopez's mastery of repoussage and his design acumen...

I could hardly exaggerate my surprise when I bumped into this enamel necklace - obviously a Margot de Taxco inspired design, it is signed "VILLA", a name I have not encountered before and is not, at least to my knowledge, even mentioned in the extant literature. A combination of champleve and confetti, the enamel is masterfully done, with intense colors and the blue in particular revealing green undertones when the light falls on it on a certain angle...

Wrought in .940 silver and with a big onyx cabochon forming its body, a vintage Hector Aguilar brooch in the shape of a pelican. The combination of repoussage and chasing and the stark contrast between the black depths of the stone and the warmly glowing silver is what makes this piece irresistibly attractive. Measuring 2 3/8" tall by 2 1/8" wide (at its widest) the bird weighs 23.1 grams and is signed with a combination of hallmarks that dates it in the 1953-62 period...

A talented silversmith and good designer, Alfredo Villasana is known not only for his original pieces (which I truly appreciate for their imaginative design and perfect finishing) but for his high quality emulations of pieces that were first issued by the big talleres, usually of the Los Castillo and Margot de Taxco ones. I am not sure whether the fabulous pectoral I am presenting here comes up with either the Los Castillo or Margot signatures in the specific configuration of elements yet the...

Vintage Margot de Taxco Mexican silver necklace and earrings demi, this is a delicate, discretely feminine design and it's perfect for the hot days of summer. Extensive beading, a touch of oxidation, riveted links and a presence that though romantic is still visually strong characterize the set and make it one of my Margot favorites. The necklace measures 16 1/8" long (wearable) with the bow link being 2" wide by just shy of 7/8" tall (at its tallest) while the width at the chain is 3/16"...

Working out of San Miguel de Allende, Carmen Beckmann is one of the “second generation” (if I may be allowed the term here) designer / silversmiths who contributed to Mexico’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance. In her work, Beckmann is often inspired by ancient Maya and Aztec motifs to which she adds her unique modernist “twist” - quite successfully in my opinion at least...

Slick and elegant in such a less-is-more way this set of vintage sterling silver Kupitaan Kulta modernist earrings was created in Finland in the 1950s-60s period. It seems to me that in this set Elis Kauppi tempered bare bones minimalism with the lightest possible trace of vermeil that covers the inner surfaces of the earrings' rectangular building blocks and gives the illusion of a textured finish. Spectacularly beautiful they measure 2 3/8" long by 3/8" wide and weigh 7.2 grams (for the set)...

Stunning Antonio Pineda Mexican modernist silver and black onyx necklace, this too is wrought in the maestro's favorite fine, .970 alloy in a variation of his "crescents" design. There isn't much one can say about Antonio jewelry, at least not more than a few good photos can say, but let me express my admiration for the magical way he articulates his creations so as to sit perfectly where they should and at the same time showcase the design's sculpturality in the best possible light...

Published in Penny Morrill's latest book on Margot de Taxco's enamel work, the so called "Curling Lines" necklace is one of her most loved designs and definitely a piece that epitomizes her understanding of femininity and elegance. Deeply sculpted repousse links that bring to mind feathers dotted with perfect silver beads, lead to a gorgeous central piece where the silver twists and twirls like waves in the sea...

I have seen this design by Margot de Taxco before - it can be found in all silver as well as adorned with amethyst or art glass cabochons in addition to the silver and copper combination - but I had never had a ring from this line in the past. I am partial to the marrying of the two metals as it is and in this case, the complexity of the repousse with its beading and undulating tendrils and the warm glow of beautifully patinated copper make for a stunning piece...

The most fun Sigi Pineda earrings I have ever had, this set is in fact the first in a series of three pairs I will be presenting, all in the same design vein. Quirky and definitely playful, the figures look as if springing out of a child's sketch book. Human? Penguin? A combination of the two? Whatever the case, they are striking, rendered in silver and opaque black oxidation, a surrealist representation of wearable bipeds...

In the style closely associated with Enrique Ledesma yet signed by one of his contemporary Taxco maestros this stunning sterling silver necklace and earrings set epitomizes the slick modernism of Mexico’s mid-century. Designs in this genre capitalize on the stark contrast between highly polished, reflective silver and dark, heavily oxidized surfaces and the visual drama that it creates...

An early Los Castillo creation as indicated by the low design number, this is also a classic for the taller - repousse swirls accented by beads and riveted together to imitate the waves in a distant sea. The links' depressed areas are beautifully oxidized to intensify the design's depth and by construction the bracelet offers maximum comfort to its wearer. It measures 7 1/4" long (wearable) by 5/8" wide (at its widest) and weighs 39.9 grams. Signed with the taller's name as well as des...

Beautifully rendered emulations of Margot de Taxco's koi fish earrings, this pair is signed by a maker who is known among collectors of vintage Mexican jewelry for his prowess in the art of repoussage and the high quality of his work. I think the point I am trying to make is amply illustrated by the bold repousse, the dark oxidation in the recesses of the design and the care that went into the finishing touches. As products of a minimally mechanized, hand-based process, the earrings differ sligh...

A pair of leaves made out of sterling silver and inlaid with azur-malachite this set of Salvador Teran earrings remains true to the absolute minimalism that characterizes his jewelry. It never ceases to amaze me how, with just a few pencil strokes, talented designers can impart the freshness of a green leaf, the way it curls to collect the rain, the texture of its serrated edge. Here the thin ribbon of stone, seamlessly set into the foliate body, is the only element of color, a tiny window that ...

Sigi Pineda rings don't come up very often and I am very happy to present here an example out of his "boomerang" line. Fashioned in the so-called by pass style, this is a slick, mod piece, its two wings adorned with bezel set turquoise cabs. Fantastic patina and excellent vintage condition make this an absolute must-have for collectors of Mexican jewelry and lovers of mod design alike. Relatively adjustable (upwards, I would suggest), the ring is now a sz 6 and its face measures just above 1" by...