Early and quite hard to find, this Los Castillo silver repousse bracelet is comprised of lusciously sculpted, wide feather links. A dream to wear, I love it for the scrolled edges of each feather and the way the links alternate their orientation adding drama to the design. The bracelet measures a wearable 7" long and it is 1 1/2" wide. It weighs 52.9 grams and has a safety chain as well...
The smaller version of this particular design, this set of vintage Margot de Taxco earrings reminds me of elaborate woven baskets. The repoussage here is very sculptural and the beading in combination with the wonderful patina the set has acquired over the years accentuates its three-dimensional appeal. Eye-catching without being visually overwhelming, it is easy to wear and will hold its own whatever the occasion you chose it for...
Casting of very good quality, a huge amethyst gemstone and a long chain with figural links combine in this Italian Peruzzi style pendant necklace to create one of those pieces that collectors covet and all of us dream about. I believe we have here a convergence of two Revival movements - Classical Revival in the sterling chain with its theater mask links and Gothic Revival with the two dragons flanking that amazing amethyst...
Here is a charming young lady or girl, nicely realized in 14k (marked and tested) yellow gold. She is shown in profile against a textured oval background. Her hair curls around at the base of the oval, and her bangs are in slight disarray – we think she’s just sweet! She measures 1/2” x 3/8”, with a total length of 2-1/4” and weighs 1.4 g. Circa 1900 and in excellent condition. The photos are part of the description; please examine them carefully...
Big, heavy and bold, the Los Ballesteros “beehive” pendant can be found with “masks” carved in amethyst, dyed calcite, azurite, black onyx and even obsidian yet I have never seen one like the example I am thrilled to be presenting here! Very reminiscent of Old World “moon face” jewelry, the portrait in our case is rendered in a light, lemon-colored stone...
A design that doesn’t come up very often, these figural Mexican Deco silver earrings by Los Castillo remind me of Old World “wind” representations. I love the sense of powerful forward motion they convey with the curling repousse silverwork and the feather-like trail that the “winds” leave behind them as they sweep through the skies. I wonder what the rest of the parure looks like...
Beautifully executed this Mexican silver and dyed calcite "mask-in-a-feathered-sunburst" brooch is based on a similar Spratling design (if I am not mistaken). Sunburst designs were popular among Mexican silversmiths in the first half of the 20th c. - a giver of life and warmth, the sun is important in all civilizations and its portrayal took on a myriad of symbolic meanings...
Here is a sweet little pendant or charm made by Jean-Baptiste-Emile Dropsy, one of the famous French medalists. The design was usually made out of a heavy gold plate, but this one is 18kt rosy gold. Signed by Dropsy on the front, as is usual with French medals, it measures 1/2” in diameter (with the jump ring, 7/8”), and weighs 1.5g. In excellent condition, showing a gentle patina, and circa 1900. The photos are part of the description; please examine them carefully. Thanks! We do lay-away...
Just shy of 2" long, I give you the third and last and definitely quirkiest set of Sigi Pineda silver earrings I have been talking about. I happened to come upon the first of these in early summer, fell in love with its cartoonish strangeness - I had never seen this line of Sigi's before. And since all good things come in threes, I found two more pairs in the months following that initial discovery...
I promised yesterday that I had two more of those Sigi Pineda surrealist figures dangle earring sets to present and here is the second pair. There is something as endearing as it is quirky about the specific design line - I am not sure what Sigi was into when he created these - but I find them all weirdly irresistible. Overlay and oxidation are used here too to convey the human form, its hands crossed on the chest, turning a minimalist profile away from the onlooker...
A favorite designer of mine, Carmen Beckmann is one of the few female contributors to Mexico’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance that we know of. Mostly modernist, her work is known for its massive, at times, proportions (especially with her hinged bracelets) and her masterful use of semi-precious stones and gems. The star-form ring at hand is centered by a big, faceted color-change sapphire, that varies between amethyst and steely purple as the light changes...
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. Measuring 1 3/4" long by 1" wide the earrings weigh 11.7 grams (for the ...
Properly hallmarked by Margot de Taxco and bears this very rare design 5581A. It is fine line enamel and is 1 1/8th of an inch tall and further showing off a weight of 126 grams of silver. The diameter is 4.5 inches for sizing. There is no damage to the silver or enamel. I have never seen this flip of the silver on it's ends and it is absolutely beyond charming. A huge YES for collectors and beautifiers, just LOOK AT THAT NECKLACE!
This eye-catching design by Taxco, Mexico artist Hector Aguilar measures 18" long by 1" wide and weighs 105 grams. Hand-wrought in 940 sterling silver, this mid 20th century necklace is in beautiful condition with a tight and secure clasp. Hallmarked on the clasp HA 940 TAXCO with eagle #9. These hallmarks are pictured on p.13 of Silver Masters of Mexico by Penny Morrill. Hector Aguilar designs are included in the permanent Latin American collections at LACMA and MFA Boston as well as many othe...
This beautiful Art Nouveau dragon doesn't hoard treasure--he is a treasure!
The pin is 18 k gold (tested). The wings are edged in 7 rose-cut diamonds each and his tail is tipped with more rose-cut diamonds. He holds an Old English cut diamond in his beak. The pin is 1 3/8” X 1 ¼”. It has an early-style safety catch. The hinge is a replacement. There are no marks. Circa 1900.
An iconic creation for Enrique Ledesma, this design can be found in all jewelry forms and with various stones. There is something very sculptural in the way the stone is cut that bestows an irresistible tactile quality to it and the case of the brooch at hand is no exception. Predominantly green with sage overtones yet not lacking rich blues and more muted browns, the azur-malachite is securely set in its warmly glowing silver frame. Distinctly angular, the stone’s shape is mitigated by the sw...
Spectacular sterling and coral clip earrings in what appears to be a starfish pattern by Frank Patania Sr. The stones are saw tooth bezel set and there is a beautiful, fine textured pattern in the silver. Measuring 2 3/8" long and 1 1/4" wide, they weigh 31 grams total and are in fine original condition. Signed as shown. Rare and show stopping when on the ears.
Lovely sterling and smokey quartz clip earrings by Arizona Modernist H. Fred Skaggs. Photo #3 shows the stones under bright light but the first 2 photos are how the color of the stones appear in routine lighting. Weighing 18 grams total, they measure 1 1/8" by 1 1/8" and are in fine original condition. Signed as shown. Gorgeous !