A whopper of a bracelet, this early Taxco Deco beauty was wrought in fine, 980 silver and has still evident the Spanish Colonial influence in its design. Bold yet simple in its constitutive motifs, the silver-work is made up of three massive curved links that are adorned with traditional wire appliques and a touch of deliberate oxidation...

Extraordinary huge vintage sterling and turquoise petit point ring by Zuni Edith Tsatbetsaye , circa 1970. Many silversmiths created petit point pieces but this silversmith took the art to an extreme. The stones are cut with a semi-circular high domed arch that is her trademark, creating a lacework that wraps around the entire front half of the finger. This ring is a size 6 1/2 and measures 1 3/8" long and 1 " wide in the front...

An absolutely extraordinary pair of vintage sterling cuff bracelets by Frank Patania Sr. from his Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, NM. Impeccable, precise craftsmanship and design speak in these pieces. Measuring 5 3/4" around in the inside plus an additional 1 1/4" opening, they are 2 1/2" wide and weigh 284 grams total. Only one of the cuffs is signed so will only be sold as a pair. Fine original condition and signed as shown. These are truly magnificent.

Perfect for the black turtlenecks and heavy coats of winter this vintage Mexican Deco silver and turquoise bird of paradise brooch is a stupendous work of art! Not only does its sheer size stun the eye, its layered sculpturality and curvaceous repoussage invites the touch and allows the light to play a thousand tricks hiding in its recesses and reflecting off its elevations...

An elaborate sterling silver knot hanging off a classic repousse semi-sphere takes center-stage in this set of vintage Mexican dangle earrings by renowned Taxco maestro Pedro Castillo. I love Pedro Castillo's work for its complexity and layering and the modernist twist it adds to motifs derived from Mexico's rich cultural past...

I always preface Jose Luis Flores's jewelry by saying that, in my opinion, he was one of the most talented Taxco maestros during the town's heyday. His creations are usually modernist re-interpretations of ancient Meso-american motifs, always dynamic and quite often magnificently layered...

Hallmarks date this Hector Aguilar cuff 1943-1948.

Measures 2 3/4" wide at the ends, inside edge to edge at the center is 5 3/4", gap is 1 5/8" at the center, 1 5/16" at the ends.

Weight is 114.6 grams.

Twenty-seven turquoise cabs are set in three rows.

Should fit up to a 6 7/8" wrist...

A colorful 18K gold pendant from H Stern’s “Rainbow Collection,” featuring rectangular garnet, topaz, citrine, peridot, green tourmaline, aquamarine, and amethyst to represent the color spectrum of visible light. The stones are contained within a simple gold border. The reverse is stamped with Stern’s star mark. Tested and guaranteed 18K.

• Origin: Brazil, ca...

A very handsome and heavy pair of double-sided 18K gold cufflinks, the oval faces decorated with stripes of engine-turned engraving and translucent royal blue guilloche enamel. The faces are joined by chains. Both the faces and the individual chain links are fully marked for Sheffield, 1905 and have an unidentified maker’s mark.

• Origin: Sheffield, England, 1905
• Condition: excellent, no enamel damage
• Dimensions; faces, 3/4” x 9/16”
• Weight: 11.0 grams

An elegant Art Nouveau bracelet comprising foliate shaped links set with round amethysts alternating with fleur-de-lis shaped links. The amethysts have the deep violet coloring typical of the best quality Siberian material. Tested and guaranteed 14K gold.

• Origin: America, ca 1895
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 7-1/2” long
• Weight: 19.4 grams
• Approximate Total Amethyst Weight: 5.22 carats

This ring is the match to the pair of Patania cuffs listed. The same gorgeous design and execution, it is a size 5 and weighs 20 grams. The face of the ring is 1 1/4" long and 1" wide. Fine condition. Signed as shown. This ring looks stunning all on its own but is a show stopper when worn together with the cuffs.

A glorious emulation of Spratling's "Aztec Sun" design, the early Mexican Deco silver and amethyst cuff at hand combines repoussage and overlay with cleverly applied oxidation that adds more depth and drama to an already stunning bracelet. This is a generously proportioned piece so if you always craved a cuff like it but couldn't find one to fit, don't miss this opportunity...

I know and admire maestro C. Molina's work for its superb craftsmanship and its monumentality but I was still not prepared for this set of stupedying dangle earrings! There is big, there is massive and then, there is the pair of shadowbox stunners I am presenting here tonight...

A smashing duo in the index of mid-20th century Mexican jewelry design, Cecilia and Tono have created some of the most amazing pieces. More often than not their creations are re-interpretations of ancient motifs with a modernist twist and adaptations of old techniques and materials to fit their contemporary vision...

Signed by a listed but still unidentified Taxco maestro, this pair of exuberant sterling silver chandelier earrings is set with some of the most vibrant turquoise teardrops I have seen. Yet it is not just the stones that elevate it above and beyond your everyday earrings. The silver-work is equally gorgeous, the hand-cut and deeply chased frames given "body" with just a tad of repoussage and wisely applied oxidation...

Distinctly Egyptian Revival in its inspiration, the set of Mexican Deco dangle earrings at hand reminds me very much of elements in Margot de Taxco's "Cleopatra" parure; more specifically, the feathers of the "vulture crown" the pharaoh is wearing. More stylized in our case they are here involved in an elaborate knot forming sculptural dangles that hang off the sweetest repousse rosettes...

Classic in its elegance and the delicate filigree work that embellishes it, this vintage silver and sodalite pendant necklace dates in the first decades of the 20th c. and I believe it is an Italian piece. Very similar to work that came out of the Peruzzi and Coppini workshops of Florence, the necklace is anonymous yet exhibits very high levels of craftsmanship and its finishing is impeccable...

Nice and long at 27 1/2", this mid-century Antonio Pineda pendant necklace features a starburst design pendant with turquoise colored stones. The pendant itself measures 2 1/2" tall, just under 2" wide. Both pendant and chain are marked with with Antonio Taxco crown, and the chain can be worn on its own or with another pendant. Please see pics for additional hallmarks. Weight is 50.5 grams. In excellent vintage condition. On Consignment.

This is a beautiful pair of cufflinks from Antonio Pineda with an archer shadowbox design said to be inspired by the cave drawings of Lascaux. In excellent vintage condition. T-backs are tight and snappy. Measures 1 1/4" tall. Weight is 23.2 grams. Signed and hallmarked on each cufflink with the Antonio Taxco crown, Hecho en Mexico, 970, and the eagle assay 17. No issues whatsoever.

This Antonio Pineda "Silver by Toño" hallmark dates 1948-1953. It's a timeless design. elegant and classy, which works with any outfit and is quite flattering. Measures a closed, wearable length of about 6 7/8". Width is 3/4". Closes with a pin on a chain. Weight is 50.1 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Silver by Toño Mexico". In excellent vintage condition. Collector quality. Offered on consignment.

This Antonio Pineda bracelet is a very rare find. The matching necklace is shown on p.179 of Silver Masters of Mexico.

Comprised of twelve panels, each with a heart and a turquoise cabochon. Hand-caved with oxidized recesses, it's a superb piece which looks and feels fabulous...

Bearing the signature of maestro Barrera this carefully made figural brooch depicts a richly clad person, most probably a nobleman or priest, with hands forming a very distinct gesture as if he takes part in a ritual or is performing a dance. Barrera , I suspect, worked in Mexico City, and created some impressive jewelry in the style associated with it. In the brooch at hand attention has been paid to every little detail that emphasizes the figure's high standing in society, their importance exp...

Possibly the most "surrealist" early Mexican Deco "mask" brooch I have ever had, this piece is the source of so many questions for me. What is it exactly that it depicts with its "portrait" surrounded by an elaborate headdress, the two arms emanating right from its top with no actual body present? And what is the "mask" itself made of? It registers as a stone in my gem-tester but I am not sure if it is onyx or a different type of opaque, black stone. I find myself in one of those instances in wh...

This very early Los Castillo bracelet was likely designed by Margot. A very rare and monumental piece. Collector quality.

A large teardrop amethyst adorns the center front, and the swirls of silver have tiny beading. Can be worn either with the amethyst facing down from the wrist resting on the hand, or the opposite way higher on the wrist.

Width in front is about 2 1/2". Closed, wearable length is 7".

Weight is 76.5 grams.

Signed and hallmarked wit...

A very fine and moving 18K gold and enamel locket in loving memory of Francis Mary, Viscountess Forbes who died on Christmas Day, 1877. She married the Viscount Forbes, 26 years her senior when she was just 21 years old. She was predeceased by her husband, and though she never became a Countess, their son inherited the title Earl of Granard. The locket was likely made for her granddaughter-in-law, Beatrice Mills Forbes, an American heiress who was Viscountess Forbes at the time of Francis Mary�...

A superb pair of 14K yellow gold bean-back cufflinks by Carter, Gough & Co., the faces decorated with a representation of Sandro Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.” The jeweler took a few liberties with Botticelli’s design by having the goddess walking atop roiling waves rather than standing in a scallop shell, and fully baring her breasts instead of modestly covering them with her own flowing hair. The bean backs are designed with a swirling pattern that mimics the waves of the front faces. ...

This mid-century Salvador Teran bracelet features a silver man in the moon and star which appears to be floating against the darkened background, framed in a silver bezel of varying sides and angles. It's a seldom seen design and a standout piece. Has a large presence on the wrist. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 1/2". Width in front is 1 5/8". Weight is 64.7 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Salvador Sterling Mexico", with the eagle assay 36 and design # 125.

Hallmarks date 1948-1962. Three chrysocolla stones and an edgy geometric design combine to make this a very unique bracelet. Easy to wear and very comfortable on the wrist, this piece goes with just about any outfit and occasion. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 1/2". Width is just over 1/2". Signed and hallmarked "HA .940 Taxco Mexico", with the eagle assay 9. Weight is 44.1 grams. In excellent vintage condition.

It's been a while since I offered a vintage Italian silver cimaruta necklace but today I hope to prove the wait worth-while with this gorgeous set from the first decades of the 20th c.. An ancient talisman associated with Southern Italy, the cimaruta was used to protect against the evil eye and in our days, it has been re-invigorated as a powerful wiccan symbol. Signed by a contemporary to the Peruzzi and Coppini Bros Italian maker whom I haven't been able to identify, the pendant has eye-catchi...

"Mask" jewelry is not a rarity in the world of vintage Mexican silver yet the portrayals are almost always of ancient, Mesoamerican faces. And even though I am a very big fan of them as long as both the carving and the setting is interesting, I am thrilled to be presenting here a big brooch by A. Tobias housing the portrait of a more "contemporary" man. There is something in this "mask" that screams "Roman" to me and I know the typology might not even justify it but that was my initial reaction ...

Beautiful, rare cuff with silver overlay and center deep red coral stone by Master Hopi Silversmith Victor Coochwytewa (1922- 2011) who began producing in the 40's and is best known for his traditional Hopi patterns. His career spanned over 50 years and he retired from jewelry making in 2006.This bracelet measures 5 1/4" around in the inside plus an additional 1 1/4 opening. It is 1 1/4" wide in the front, tapers to 3/4" in the back and weighs 64 grams. The bracelet is in fine original condition...

This bracelet features an iconic design by Abraham Paz. Paz designed and produced jewelry not only for himself, but for Fred Davis as well. This piece is composed of five hand-carved and polished obsidian masks which alternate with silver shields. Measures a closed, wearable length of 7 1/8", with a width of 15/16". Weight is 38.2 grams. Signed and hallmarked "AP Sterling Mexico", along with the eagle assay 1. Collector quality.

The epitome of minimalism and the best proof that when it's done correctly, it is the most elegant style, this vintage Danish sterling silver and banded agate ring is signed by Bruno Jorgensen who was active in Virum until his death in 1973. There is nothing about this piece I would change - I love the way the flat cut of the stone reveals its two colors; I love the laconic design of the silver setting; and that touch of black enamel which accentuates the stepped construction of its bezel. Curre...

A magnificent hand crafted, precisely stamped and chiseled heavy gauge sterling bolo with a beautiful center turquoise by Navajo Thomas Curtis who created for over 50 years, passing away in 2013.He took inspiration from nature and traditional Navajo designs and added his own unique talent to produce remarkable pieces of beauty and balance. This bolo measures 3" long x 2 1/2" across. The hand stamped silver tips are 2 3/4" tall. The bolo is set with a beautiful center turquoise stone and strun...

Extraordinary huge vintage sterling and turquoise ring by Zuni Edith Tsatbetsaye who is most well known for her stunning petit point jewelry. There are 25 individually bezel set small, round turquoise stones of varying shades of turquoise from robins egg blue to deep green. The ring is a size 12 1/2 and I believe has been previously sized. It measures 7/8" long and 1 1/8" wide in the front. Weighing a solid 22 grams, it is in fine condition. There are no missing stones and no chips or cracks t...

Signed by my favorite Mexican modernist, this set of Salvador Teran earrings in the so-called "crouching man" design combines sterling, strategically placed oxidation and richly speckled azur-malachite stones. I consider Teran a true genius - his jewelry has that inner power that holds the gaze and the imagination captive and sends them on surreal journeys into worlds familiar and at the same time strange and wondrous. Based on ancient Mesoamerican motifs that the maestro re-interprets in unexpe...

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. The neck ring has an inner circumference of 16” (including the 1 1/...

Maestro Nestor is one of Taxco’s well-kept little secrets. He is not widely known - only the very dedicated vintage Mexican silver jewelry collectors are aware of his work - and his pieces can vary in style and inspiration. Yet when he is at his best, he can be truly spectacular. I believe the necklace at hand is expresses one of those creative moments. Lovingly hand-cut and deeply chased sterling silver surrounds a big faceted amethyst set in a substantial crown setting while the delicate fol...

Here is a supremely rare necklace from Los Castillo, with their earliest hallmarks dating 1930-1940. Likely designed by Margot. Executed in 980 silver, it is a spectacular piece with a pre-Columbian design composed of seven repoussé silver glyph panels and tubular beads and balls. Lays beautifully upon the neck and certainly commands attention. Collector quality. Measures a closed, wearable length of 16", with a width of 1 1/4". Weight is 85.6 grams. Signed and hallmarked "980 Los Castillo...

One of my favorite "less celebrated" maestros whose jewelry, however, has been experiencing a constant rise in appreciation among collectors, A. Tobias was a contemporary of Matilde Poulat's and I believe he was probably also working in Mexico City. His creations caught my attention several years ago for their characteristic "Mexico City style" repoussage and their beautiful craftsmanship. I have since come to find out that he also designed some amazing "mask" brooches and tried his hand at impr...

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. And though quite far from his birthplace, his form is often depicted in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and over the years, I have had several bea...

Offered on consignment........... Felipe Martinez had been a sculptor before opening his shop in 1950. The shop was called "Piedra Y Plata", (Stone and Silver). Martinez had worked with Hubert Harmon at one time in the 1940's. This bracelet likely dates 1950's. Composed of sixteen curved S links, the amethysts are gorgeous gemstones with deep purple hues, quartz marbling, and natural inclusions. Drapes over the wrist like silk, and looks positively magnificent. Clearly a piece of wearab...

Stunning and rare, especially in its use of the specific stone, this vintage Mexican silver necklace features a combination pin / pendant signed by Taxco's foremost lapidary, Felipe Martinez, and a substantial chain from the same period which I believe might be by the same maestro as it bears an Eagle assay mark that Martinez used. And yes, the superbly carved "mask" is teased out of tiger's eye stone though a more unusual kind that it often referred to as "hawk's" or "falcon's eye". I have sold...

Circa 1940-1945, this masterpiece from Los Castillo pulls out all the stops. The craftsmanship is magnificent, the design sublime. The prong set faceted stones are almost black in color, with brown striations which can be seen from the back of the stones. The design is full of swirls and tiny beading. Centerpiece has six dangles and measures 5 1/2" wide and 2 1/4" tall. Closed, wearable length is 17". Weight is 112.7 grams. Signed and hallmarked with linear marks "Los Castillo Sterling Mex...

An early Los Castillo design and very much in keeping with the 1940s' love for sweeping flourishes this set of earrings, carefully hand-cut, overlaid and oxidized will add just the right amount of festive spirit to your outfit. Bold and confident, the swirls seem to twist upon themselves in excitement and then reach high up for the skies with abandonment. Got to love the Los Castillo and the myriad ways in which they still make our day. The earrings measure 1 3/4" tall by 3/4" wide and weigh 12....

A retail shop in Taxco, according to Bille Hougart, Plateria Cortes is a name also found on some of Enrique Ledesma pieces, most probably because they were sold there. So my first thought when I saw this set of vintage Mexican silver surrealist earrings was that they might have been made by Ledesma. And then it all came back to me - a couple of years ago, I sold three sets of earrings in the same exact style (and actually even a pair like the one at hand) clearly signed for Sigi Pineda. Interest...

Two different sizes of sterling silver barrel beads adorned with a myriad of hand-made florets in the Etruscan style make up this generously long Mexican lariat necklace from the pre-1948 period. I am very partial to long necklaces and lariats are a small obsession of mine. When I am lucky enough to come upon an Etruscan example as the one presented here, my heart skips a beat. Just like the one I offered last summer, this lariat was also made in Cuernavaca, one of Mexico's main silver-smithing ...

Hand wrought in thick silver & weighing 95 grams this cuff was designed by Spratling in the 1940's. The bracelet stands 1 1/2" high and will comfortably fit up to a 6 3/4" wrist. Inside diameter is 2 1/2". The back opening is 1 1/4" wide. The bracelet is in beautiful condition with a nicely aged patina. Hallmarked on the reverse. The design is pictured on p. 37 of MEXICAN SILVER by Penny Morrill & Carole Berk. Also pictured on Phyllis Goddards' spratlingsilver.com.

Known for their high quality of holloware primarily, Ingrid's remains even today one of those elusive actors in the story of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance. Active in the 1930s and 1940s, as Bille Hougart reports, this retailer seems to have been the venue through which well-known maestros like Chato Castillo sold some of their creations. Based on my experience I can say that jewelry bearing their signature is not very often encountered but when it pops up, it is always on big, bold and bea...

Maestro Damaso Gallegos was for years associated in my mind with the Mexican Deco "Christmas jewelry” tradition. His “holly and bells” as well as “bow and bells” designs are a classic way to celebrate the coming of the holiday season yet in the last couple of years I keep stumbling upon totally unexpected pieces by him. The massive, early Taxco combination pin / pendant with the carved stone “mask” at hand is crafted in high purity, .980 silver with overlay, beading and oxidation. ...

Often referred to as the "Spratling of Peru", Italian-born Graziella Laffi came to be associated with the country's most innovative design in jewelry and hollowware in the 1950s. Just like Spratling did in Mexico, Laffi turned to Peru's rich archeological past and its vibrant folk culture for inspiration. Her re-interpretations of ancient Inca motifs in silver, copper and enamel are avidly sought after by collectors today for their creative spirit and exceptional craftsmanship. The long dangle e...

Classic Antonio Pineda bangle bracelet wrought in the maestro's favorite, .970 fine silver alloy with deep notches all around it that appear more dramatic thanks to the intentionally applied oxidation. There is something about Antonio's jewelry that bring them close to your heart as soon as you first see them and this piece is no exception. Enjoy it alone or, if you are lucky enough, add it to the stack of his bangles you already have. The bracelet has an inner circumference of 7 3/4" (2 1/2" i...

After working for Spratling in Las Delicias and Hector Aguilar in Taller Borda, Reveriano Castillo opened his shop Reveri in 1952 with the co-operation of his wife, Maria. His jewelry is known for its impeccable finishing and the good quality of materials used so I am always happy to come upon one of his creations. The set of earrings at hand in an abstract floral design with articulated stamen dangle is as sweet-as-can-be and ideal to celebrate the coming of Spring this year. Measuring 1 3/4...

A multi-talented award-winning artist, Arno Malinowski worked for Georg Jensen for several years and created some iconic designs for the company. His most popular pieces are brooches wrought in sterling and inspired by the natural world - deer, birds, dolphins, alone or in delicately depicted foliage, their bodies rendered with such sensitivity, one feels compelled to constantly run one's fingers over them. The bird portrayed in the brooch at hand is illustrative of what I am trying to say. The ...

One of my favorite female designers of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance (and admittedly, they aren't so many to begin with), Carmen Beckmann was a rather flexible maestra, able to create in many different styles. using a variety of materials. Her jewelry can be massive and jaw-dropping but quite as easily delicate and more sophisticated. The bracelet I am presenting here I call rare not so much for its design (which I have not seen before) but primarily for the scarcely seen snowflake obsidia...

Hand-hammered silver reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement and a jade bead that brings to mind ancient Aztec and Maya jewelry combine in this sterling silver ring by the Los Castillo. The specific design does not come up very often. In all my years of buying and selling vintage Mexican jewelry I have only had two examples - the second one being the one offered here. Simple yet not simplistic, easy to wear, a pleasure to behold the ring is currently a sz 8 US (resizable by your jeweler) an...

Glowing with the patina of time that adds precious depth to recesses of the design, this vintage Los Castillo repousse brooch has a more romantic air about it than most of their work. I love the combination of twists and twirls with the stylized "trumpet" flowers at the top and even though the elements which have been called into service here are definitely floral, I can't stop seeing the eyes of a night owl staring back at me in wise contemplation. Measuring 2 3/4" wide by 1 7/8" tall the brooc...

An early Mexican Deco bracelet, made in Mexico City as indicated by its hallmarks, this massive piece is as well-crafted as it is impressive. Impressive might even be an understatement, actually. Though it is true that vintage Mexican silver jewelry is not of the delicate, demure kind, even after so many years of researching, buying and selling them, I find myself at a loss for words when a piece like this shows up. I love the Spanish Colonial air of the wirework adorning the convex panels with ...

Elegant and "quiter" than most Matilde Poulat jewelry, this early repousse bracelet by the big maestra exhibits nonetheless all the attributes Matl's work is avidly sought after and venerated for. Repoussage that creates a body with impeccable texture and perfect finishing, a gorgeous golden sheen obsidian cabochon and, of course, the Mexico City style silver-work which to me represents Mexico's Arts and Crafts movement. What is there not to love here? I am very attracted to the size which allow...

A figural repousse Mexican Deco brooch in sterling silver this "portrait" piece bears the signature of early Mexico City maestro M. Velazquez. Over the years of my love affair with vintage Mexican silver jewelry, I have come to know and appreciate Velazquez's work for its "earthiness", its craftsmanship and the interesting designs he created. The specific "mask" motif I have had a few times in the past in necklace, ring and brooch forms but always anonymous. Often described as an Aztec or Maya "...