Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Silver (311)

I am thrilled to be presenting you with this Mexican Deco silver and amethyst glass “masks” and cabs bracelet. This type of multi-row repousse semi-spheres bangle (I like to think of similar bracelets as glorified hinged bangles indeed!) is one of the most sought-after forms in the world of vintage jewelry from Mexico...

I don't use the term "rare" very often when presenting my jewelry yet in this case, I just had to! Because this specific version of one of my favorite designs, the multi-row repousse semi-spheres hinged bracelets usually adorned with turquoise cabs, is indeed very very difficult to come upon. What elevates the bracelet at hand above and beyond other similar examples is the sheer size of the repousse semi-spheres that make up its two "wings"...

Striding the divide between classic Mexican and Native American / Southwestern design this sterling silver bracelet is one of the most beautiful examples of the “marriage” I have seen. This hybridization is not, in fact, accidental as it is known from the relevant literature that Mexican maestros were a significant factor in the development of Native American silversmithing...

An iconic Mexico City design from the Deco years, the "peyote flowers" is rendered here in fleshy repoussage that is further enhance with oxidation and the warm patina of time. Graduated in size the floral links are adorned with vibrantly colored turquoise cabochons and connected with "hidden" pin hinges which allow the bracelet to effortlessly conform to the wrist's moves...

The bearer of Zeus's thunderbolts Pegasus, the winged stallion of Greek mythology, is also associated with literary and artistic inspiration. One of my favorite images from that period, he is always depicted striding the air with pride and confidence, his strong, wings working hard to raise that formidable body high into the lofty realms of the divine...

An early Taxco treasure, this Mexican Deco cuff bracelet is both generous in weight and wrought in fine, .980 silver. The design is classic for the period and I have seen all-silver versions of it over the years by anonymous and recognizable names, that of Emma and La Cucaracha being among the most famous. The marriage of silver and copper that we are treated to here, however, I have never encountered before...

Undoubtedly the result of artistic cross-pollination this vintage Mexican silver neck ring pendant necklace emits an intense Scandinavian vibe . Evocative of Danish modernist jewelry, it is not just the shapes that refer to it but also the choice of sodalite cabochons to accompany the warmly glowing silver. Slick, elegant, versatile - a combination which still speaks to our modern eye even though created almost a century ago...

Based on an original, almost impossible to find Margot de Taxco design, the repousse "swans-in-a-row" bracelet I am presenting here is wrought in fine, .980 silver and is a little masterpiece. I think suggesting that "A.E.M", whose initials can be found on it, was a maestro who worked for the Los Castillo and/or Margot de Taxco is not a far-fetched hypothesis. Not only is this piece very close to Margot's creation, it is also extremely well made, very sculptural and has crisp, rich detail to it...

A luxurious tassel, its sterling threads spilling out of a brushed silver bead, catches the eye instantly in this vintage Mexican charm bracelet. A classic rendition of the specific design, it has a thick twist rope chain that has acquired a soft, silky glow over the years. Striding the divide between Deco and Retro jewelry, this is a veritable statement bracelet and if you decide to add the matching earrings and lariat necklace you see in one of the photos to it, you will not be disappointed...

One of Salvador Teran’s original designs that is difficult to find especially in the form of earrings, the “crouching man” is also a favorite of mine. Its rarity makes copies by Salvador's contemporary maestros avidly sought after and I am happy to present here an example by “3m”, a Taxco workshop known for emulating the renowned modernist’s work. Sterling silver, amethyst and strategically applied oxidation combine in this modernist interpretation of an ancient Aztec motif...

Molten caramel golds and shimmering coffee browns are reflected in warmly mellowed silver in this modernist Mexican pendant necklace with neck ring. Very Scandinavian in design, necklaces of this type are not very common in the world of vintage Mexican jewelry and I consider myself even luckier to have come upon this exquisite example because it is also a pre-1980 creation...

"Like mother like daughter" (and why not? father and son as well) is what came to mind when I saw this sweet Mexican silver and turquoise "baby" cuff bracelet. Beautifully stamped with ornamentation in the Native American / Southwestern style and centered by a rich blue turquoise stone with warm dark brown matrix the cuff is, of course, also ideal for those of us out there with very small wrists...

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...

Stunning Taxco modernist sterling silver pendant necklace this set seems to borrow stylistically from both Antonio Pineda (in its use of the black velvet cord) and the Los Ballesteros workshops (in featuring that huge gemstone). The signature it bears, however, attributes it to a listed yet still unidentified Mexican maestro whose work I have had before but about whom we don't really know that much...

Pendant necklaces are a favorite of mine - I love their versatility and the fact that I can layer them whichever way I want...

Made in the 1960s, this vintage Mexican sterling silver bracelet consists of figural disks developing in a row defined by lengths of double-woven, thick chain. I have seen this combination featuring three different kinds of disk designs. While here we have depictions of the country's history as well as symbols of its old religion (a jaguar warrior portrait, Quetzalcoatl, Mexico's state Eagle) the specific bracelet design can be found with Mexican coins or representations of the zodiac cycle. I l...

I love zodiac jewelry and thankfully so did the old Mexican maestros! Yet over the years I have noticed that no matter what their form (rings, brooches or bracelets), they are being snatched up with increasing fervor. So saying that they are becoming more difficult to find would not be an understatement, especially for rings which are an already challenging area of collecting in the vintage Mexican jewelry world. It is therefore understandable that I am thrilled to have come upon this mid-centur...

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. Always beautifully executed, his repoussage has good sculpturality and finishing and his jewelry, albeit not as heavy as those of the big talleres, has the weight necessary to impa...