Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Silver: Mexican (121)

This vintage, finely detailed feathered serpent pin was designed by Taxco, Mexico artist Margot Van Voorhies. The brooch is 4" X 2" & weighs 28 grams. The darkened patina emphasizes the hand wrought beauty of the repousse' work. The piece is in beautiful condition. Both the pin back and safety lock are in excellent working order. Fully hallmarked on the back of the pin. Margot de Taxco designs are included in WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENNISANCE by Penny Morrill. Margot's designs are also included in the permanent Mexican Silver collection at LACMA.

This iconic Spratling brooch was designed c. 1940's by American & Taxco, Mexico artist William Spratling (1900-67). The pin stands 2 1/2" tall X 2" wide and weighs 41 grams. Each amethyst is bezel set and surrounded by a deep channel giving the eyes a 3 D effect. Both silver and stones are in beautiful condition. Pin back and safety are in fine working order. Fully hallmarked on the reverse. The pin is pictured on p. 44 of MEXICAN SILVER by Penny Morrill & Carole Berk. Bille Hougart's THE LITTLE BOOK OF MEXICAN SILVER TRADE AND HALLMARKS uses this Spratling design on the book cover. The pin is also pictured on Phyllis Goddard's spratlingsilver.com. Spratling designs are featured in the permanent 20th Century Mexican silver collection at Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Spratling often used an arrow or an arrowhead in his designs. Here he pairs 925 sterling silver with matte onyx in each arrowhead link for an eye-catching combination. The necklace measures 17" long and 9/16" wide. The earrings are 1" high and inlaid with chrysocolla on the front panels. Together the necklace and earrings weigh a comfortable 57 grams. Both are in beautiful condition with minor age wear to the stones. The back of the necklace is also inlaid with matte onyx. Similar designs can be found on spratlingsilver.com and in WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE by Penny Morrill.

Hand made in the early 1930's this large 2 1/4" X 2 1/4" Spratling design weighs 47 grams. The buckle will fit up to a 1 1/4" wide strap. The high 980 grade silver provides an exceptional silky texture to the design. The hallmarks on the back are WS TAXCO 980 Mexico. This design is pictured on p. 150 of SPRATLING SILVER by Cederwall & Riney and on Goddard's spratlingsilver.com. The buckle is in excellent condition with a beautiful patina. This design was made in at least 3 sizes. This is the largest we've seen.

Extraordinary and bold, this Spratling design was created & hallmarked c. 1951. In exquisite condition with 70 years of unpolished patina, the pin measures 3 3/4" X 2 3/4" & weighs 40 grams. The carved, heart shaped obsidian stone hangs freely and catches light beautifully. Hallmarked WS and SPRATLING OF MEXICO. A Spratling sketch of this pin is included in the Portfolio of Spratling Drawings.

Rarely available on the market this vintage, sculptural design by Taxco, Mexico artist Antonio Pineda is simply stunning. The intricate melding of sterling silver and stone catches light at every turn. The necklace measures 15 1/2" wearable inches long. The pectoral measures 6 1/4" across & 1 1/2" high at the center panel. The necklace weighs 156 grams. Both stones and silver are in exquisite condition. Hallmarks on the back date the necklace to the late 1940's. A similar necklace with amethyst is pictured on p. 119 of SILVER SEDUCTION: THE ART OF MEXICAN MODERNIST ANTONIO PINEDA.

Beautifully detailed, this delicately hand forged sterling silver necklace and earrings set was designed by Frederick Davis in his very early years living in Mexico City. The necklace measures 16 1/2" long. The central "mask" is 3/4" high. The earrings are also 3/4" high. The Fred Davis FD hallmark is on the necklace clasp. At some point in later years the earrings were converted to posts and are no longer hallmarked. The set is in beautiful condition with unpolished patina. Davis designs are included LACMA's permanent collection of vintage Mexican silver.

Possibly one of Hector Aguilar's most recognizable designs, his timeless "lyre" necklace and bracelet are both sensual & strong. The necklace is 16" long X 3/4" wide & weighs 144 grams. The bracelet is 47 grams, 6 3/4" long X 5/8" wide. Both are in excellent condition with a beautifully aged patina. This design is pictured on p. 30 of SILVER MASTERS OF MEXICO by Penny Morrill.

Intricately constructed in 970 sterling, this Antonio Pineda bracelet weighs a hefty 99 grams. It stands 3/4 inch high and has a wearable length up to 6 3/4". Each of the 9 gorgeous oval stones are 1/2" long. The design allows the stones to move or float freely within their frames. All stones are in beautiful condition. The turquoise clasp and safety chain are in excellent condition with beautiful patina. Stamped on the clasp with Antonio's crown hallmark.

Spratling often used the arrow in his silver necklace, bracelet, pin and container designs. This hand forged arrow was made in his very early years in Taxco, Mexico. The pin measures an impressive 3 inches long and is beautiful condition. Both the pin back and safety lock are in fine working order. Spratling designs can be seen in many permanent museum collections.

This striking design was created by Taxco, Mexico modernist Antonio Pineda in the 1950's. 20 brilliant tigers eye stones are set into 970 sterling frames. Silver rods tipped with beautifully matched pearls & 2 with silver are interspersed. The central element measures 3 3/4" across & 2 3/4" long at the center. The silver tipped velvet cord measures 29" long. Weighing 70 grams the necklace is in exquisite condition.

Spratling gold designs rarely appear on the market. Here he uses hand-carved spondylus shell, 18K gold beads & coral shell to eye-catching effect. Each earring measures 1 1/2" high x 1 1/4" across. Both are in beautiful, original condition. Interestingly, his design embeds 2 extra gold beads into the shell of only one earring. A Spratling necklace of spondylus & 18K gold is pictured on p.58 of WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE. On pgs. 56-57 the books author, Penny Morrill discusses in detail Spratling's gold designs and the period surrounding them. LACMA & MFA Boston have Spratling's gold designs in their permanent museum collections.

Deep repousse' was used to create Spratlings' magnificent and labor intensive feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl design. Weighing 60 grams & measuring 3 1/4" x 2" the pin is in exquisite condition with gorgeous patina. This design is included in the 20th Century Mexican silver collection at Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Quetzalcoatl pin was also used on the cover of the 4th edition of MEXICAN SILVER by Penny Morrill & Carol Berk. It was displayed in the museum exhibit WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE and pictured on p. 167 where author Penny Morrill explains in detail the art of repousse'. Spratling also designed a necklace using the Quetzalcoatl design.

Spratling designed this impressive pendant in the 1940's. Measuring 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" the piece is beautifully detailed with 4 beveled cut amethyst stones & a center cab set into thick silver frames. The sterling chain in the style of Spratling measures 20" long. Together the cross and chain weigh 87 grams. The piece is in beautiful vintage condition. Two tiny nicks can be felt on the backside of two stones. Fully hallmarked for Spratling on the back. This cross is pictured on p. 150 of the museum catalog WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE by Penny Morrill.

Spratling designed this pin in 1942 as part of a series of items depicting continental solidarity. The pin shows clasped hands superimposed over a gold gilded map of the western hemisphere. This pin was made in two sizes, this being the larger at 1 1/2" x 1 1/4". The fastener is a two pronged clip. Both pin and original fastener are in excellent condition. In 1942 Macy's Dept. Store did an entire window dedicated to this design. The pin is pictured on Phyllis Goddards' website spratlingsilver.com. The design is also pictured on p. 36 of WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE by Penny Morrill.

This sculpturally stunning cuff was designed by Spratling during the rare(1949-51) period when he signed his work SPRATLING De MEXICO STERLING. Spratling marries rich, carved azur malachite and heavy sterling silver to beautiful effect. Weighing 85 grams the cuff stands 2" high at the front tapering to 1" at back. The interior length is 5 3/4" plus 1 1/4" opening. The piece is in beautiful condition. This design is included in LACMA's Latin American & Mexican silver collection and on their website. The bracelet is referred to as torque cuff on p.246 of WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE by Penny Morrill. It is also pictured on Phyllis Goddards' site spratlingsilver.com.

This playful pair of bracelets were designed and handwrought during Hubert Harmon's short time in Taxco, Mexico in the 1940's. Each bracelet measures 7" long and 3/4" wide. The pair weighs 32 grams. Each fish is finely detailed and measures 1 1/2" long. The amethyst cabs are bezel set but not backed allowing light to sparkle though as they move on the wrist. Beautiful condition. Clasps are tight and secure. Both bracelets are hallmarked Sterling, HUBERT HARMON, Made in Mexico.

This modernist design by William Spratling dates to the 1950's. Weighing 90 grams the necklace is 20 inches long. The opposing "tongues" measure 2 1/2" across X 2". Screw back earrings 1 1/8" x 1". The gold wash is very light especially on the earrings. All in beautiful condition. Hallmarked on clasp and the back of one pendant. Earrings each marked with eagle 30. Spratling called this design "lenguas" or tongues of fire. This design is included in WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE by Penny Morrill on page 246.