Catalog (319)

A variation of Antonio's amethyst cluster necklaces that doesn't come up often, this modernist dream is wrought in Pineda's signature fine, .970 alloy and adorned with richly colored stones. The renowned Taxco designer plays with a-symmetry here as the necklace's focal point, the stylized amethyst floral cascade, reaches out from the back of the neck and unfolds itself on its right side instead of occupying the center front. Each link rests its outer perimeter on the body but rises slightly abov...

Impressive in its generous width, with a gorgeous greenish blue turquoise bezel-set in its central station, this early Matilde Poulat silver bracelet is wrought en repoussage in the “Mexico City style“ she came to represent. Malt’s repousse work leaves the journey of the silversmith’s tools on the jewelry created intentionally visible and that for me brings her close to the philosophy of the Arts and Crafts movement. Yet she is also as “Mexican Deco” as anyone could ever be - her pie...

One of my favorite William Spratling designs, the original (bearing his signature) "hummingbird" pendant necklace I have seen crafted in all-silver and silver combined with black onyx or obsidian. I am sure other configurations must be available which I have not encountered so it is understandable that I was elated to discover this version marrying sterling with copper. My first surprise was followed by a second when I saw that the piece at hand was signed by Mari. In the back of my head, Mari w...

Crafted of 14k yellow gold and housing a silver coin that shows chariot horses and their charioteer this impressive, towering ring is, I believe, of Greek extraction. The coin is a reproduction of an ancient Macedonian piece from the time of Phillip II, the father of Alexander the Great - part of the king's name in Greek letters "...ΛΙΠΠΟΥ" (of Philip) can be seen under the beasts' hind legs. The chunky, generously heavy shank and setting are shaped in an "architectural" form that is chara...

Deeply carved ancient Aztec motifs adorn this Mexican Deco cuff bracelet by Taxco’s foremost designer, William Spratling. This is one of his earliest and probably quite popular cuffs since it was kept in production for a while as alluded to by the late Phyllis Goddard. Wrought in sterling silver in our case, its labyrinthine beauty makes it difficult for the eye to disengage and its comfortable weight feels divine around the wrist. With an inner circumference of 7" (including the 1 1/2” gap...

A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, and in preparing to offer this fantastic find of mine, I am putting my trust in popular wisdom. When one has been dealing in vintage Mexican silver jewelry for as long a time as I have, one tends to hear that little "devil" in one's ear louder and louder, claiming that there is nothing new or exciting left to be encountered. Thankfully though, life and the old maestros of Taxco still keep some aces hidden up their sleeve. The early sterling and carv...

Reddish brown jasper with light, almost invisible striations attracts the eye in this absolutely minimalist necklace and earrings set bearing the signature of Felipe Martinez and his Piedra y Plata workshop. Martinez was one of Taxco’s best lapidaries and the tight settings, the seamless transitions from sterling to stone in the demi at hand more than attest to the level of his craftsmanship. I love the warm, molten milk chocolate color, the perfectly graduated rectangular links, the hand-made...

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. A motif that was also used by Matilde Poulat, it is here executed with attention to detail and finishing and even though, a...

“Jewels by Tono”, the signature found on the figural Mexican silver and carved amethyst brooch at hand, is one of Antonio Pineda’s early hallmarks. Holding a fan, his hair in a long braid, part of his face obscured by the wide coolie hat, the man portrayed here is meant to hail from the “exotic Far East”. Yet interestingly enough the face itself betrays Mexican origins, its features exactly the same as those of carved stone “masks” set in classic Taxco jewelry from its “archeolog...

Drawing inspiration from Mexico’s Spanish Colonial past, this sterling silver necklace and earrings set by Margot de Taxco combines dark oxidation with overlay and deep hand-chasing to achieve an elaborate and rich Old World visual effect. I find the central station to resemble a carnival mask - I know, too Venetian but then, carnivals were celebrated in Spain as well though not as elegantly or extravagantly. The earrings, extra wide, mirror the shape of the necklace’s focal point while refl...

An ode to Mexico’s ancient crafts this “tribal” necklace wrought in sterling silver with bone links and agate beads bears the signature of Reveriano (Reveri) Castillo. Though the Castillos did, on occasion, incorporate Aztec and Maya artifacts and beads in their jewelry, I believe that here the materials used are contemporary to the designer but brought together is such a way as to evoke ancient types of personal adornment. Everything here is hand-made, with the help of the most rudimentar...

Very similar to one of Antonio Pineda's designs, this modernist sterling silver and amethyst bracelet is signed by a listed yet still unidentified early Taxco maestro. Formed by a series of truncated pyramidal links this is a substantial piece that holds its shape almost like a hinged bangle rather than a loosely articulated bracelet. The design's austere geometry is mediated by the rich color and soft curves of the amethyst cabs set in generously wide, raised bezels. Is there anything not to lo...

I was always in love with beaded necklaces but as I grow older I appreciate their elegant comfort even more. Whether worn alone or combined with similar pieces, with stones or all-silver, they can be counted on to save the day whatever the occasion. This specific design by Carmen Beckmann is one of my absolute favorites - I have one in my jewelry box and I will never let go. Made up of two sizes of beads, one plain, the other embellished with ornate wire-work, it is most usually found in choker ...

Matilde Poulat needs no introduction to the seasoned Mexican silver collector but I believe her work is equally appreciated by all lovers of bold, earthy, hand-crafted jewelry. Matl’s creations have a unique, powerful character - there is nothing timid or hesitant about them and I cherish them for exactly that. The ring presented here is a design that comes up less frequently than some of her other rings. It features Poulat’s signature wire-work ornamentation and channel-set turquoise cabs b...

Hinged bangle bracelets whether gem- or hard stone-studded, wrought in shadow-box or simply crafted in bold, massive silver are among my favorite designs by the Los Ballesteros workshop. The modernist, generously wide version at hand with its impressed “nested ellipses” and its bezel-set green jaspers is a first one for me. And I am duly excited about it - its sheer magnitufe, its warmly glowing patina, the earthy, rich hues in the stone all come together in the best possible way around a ha...

An exquisite example of Italian Renaissance Revival jewelry that were so popular with tourists on their Grand Tour at the turn and first few decades of the 20th c. this long pendant necklace is the epitome of “figural”. Not only is its chain interspersed with links representing iconic Italian monuments and coats of arms, its large pendant is a work of art too. I will suggest that the central figure is maybe inspired by Verrocchio’s “Child and Dolphin”. The child here, however, is combi...

Long antique guard chains have been very popular in the last couple of years and I am very happy to have come upon this stunning solid silver example. This is not your ordinary guard chain, as you can see. All its links are hand-cut and chased, each featuring a beautiful forget-my-not flower and even the connectors are embellished with tiny little bead appliques. Exquisite and romantic, it can be comfotablyd worn double up, holding your favorite bauble as it comes with its original dog clip, or ...