Bigger in size than the most frequently encountered version of the specific design and executing a different step, this vintage Margot de Taxco “ballerina” brooch is Mexico’s contribution to the ballet craze started by Van Cleef et Arpels in the 1940s, with the issuance of their gem-studded “ballerina” jewelry...

Here’s a brightly colored, basse-taille enameled peacock charm: feathers fully fanned. Peacocks add to the beautiful colors of Mexico, roaming about freely. The back of the charm is marked “MEXICO 925” and eagle “15” mark...

This bold and edgy Margot de Taxco bracelet is heavy and very substantial, with wide incised oxidized recesses. It's a design which is not often seen and most certainly a statement piece.

Will fit up to a 7 1/8 wrist, and has a width of 2 1/8".

Weight is 121.2 grams.

Signed and hallmarked with a partial Margot de Taxco "De Taxco", Hecho en Mexico 925, with the eagle assay 16 and design # 5634.

In excellent vintage condition...

Saturated blues and greens juxtaposed to the warm glow of well-aged silver soften the austere geometry of this Los Castillo modernist cuff bracelet. Out of the workshop’s “mozaico Azteca” line which celebrates the art of seamless inlay, the cuff is also showcasing the beauty of azur-malachite. There is nothing superfluous here - economy of design, honesty of materials and craftsmanship of the highest level combine in a visual power-house, a piece of mid-century wearable art...

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.

Being offered is a superb and exceedingly rare circa 1968 gold modernist ring by Antonio Pineda of Taxco, Mexico, the bypass design of yellow gold with pink gold wire accent mounted in 14k gold. Size is illustrated - 6 1/2. Stamped 14k and Pineda Marked. In excellent condition. 13.8 grams. Rare rare rare!!

This mid-century bracelet was produced by Antonio Pineda. It's a superb piece with a sleek modernist design, a mirror-like finish, and ten gorgeous oval amethyst cabochons. It's a bracelet which works equally well with dressy or casual wear. The amethyst gemstones are bezel-set at the center of thick square silver panels in such a way as to appear to float...

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...

This is a superb modernist bird pin from Antonio Pineda. It's large, dimensional, and substantial, with tiny beading and an obsidian eye. A design which is seldom seen, and collector quality. Measures 2 3/4" wide. Weight is 39.8 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco Crown, Hecho en Mexico 970, with the eagle assay 17. In excellent vintage condition. Pin closes with a roller.

Tone Vigland modernist sterling silver ring

Norway

Mid 20th century

Size - 6 1/2

Weight - 21 grams

Front - 1" x 1"

Hallmarks pictured

Excellent condition

Felipe Martinez opened his shop, "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. A former sculptor who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, Martinez was known for his work with beautiful stones which melded seamlessly into his silver designs. This bracelet is an exquisite example of what he was known best for. It's a thick and substantial piece, with six silver panels - each having three sections of azurite stone inlay...

Felipe Martinez opened his shop, "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. A former sculptor who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, Martinez was known for his work with beautiful stones which melded seamlessly into his silver designs. This bracelet features five chrysocolla stones with a trapezoidal shape alternating with concave silver panels. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box, with a safety chain. The stones are absolutely gorgeous, with various shades of green and copper...

Circa mid-century, this ring was produced by Antonio Pineda. It's a thick and substantial ring, with a superb modernist twist design...

*On Hold* This mid-century masterpiece from Talleres de Los Ballesteros is a book-piece design shown on p. 227 of Warman's Jewelry 3rd Edition. It's an iconic bracelet, with gorgeous faceted amethysts and incised stars which are oxidized in the recesses. The amethysts sit high in four pronged settings. Opens wide to easily fit over the wrist and closes with a tight and secure tongue in box clasp. Closed, interior length is 6 3/4", with a 1 3/4" width. Weight is 122.3 grams...

Circa mid-century, here is an iconic book-piece design from Margot van Voorhies Carr, who shop and work is known as Margot de Taxco.

Margot's design # 5554 is an exquisite and intricately detailed hand wrought serpent bracelet. Melange enamel sits within tiny scales in the segmented articulated links...

Circa mid-century, here is a very seldom seen book-piece design from Antonio Pineda.

Shown on page 148 of Gobi Stromberg's "Silver Seduction : The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda", this is a magnificent bracelet with a stunning modernist design. Composed of eight thick sleek rectangular links which have bezel-set carnelian gemstones, each with a silver disc rising from the center. It's a very unusual piece, and a real attention grabber...

Confident in his prowess as a warrior and comfortable in his ceremonial attire this Margot de Taxco silver and enamel Aztec figure can be enjoyed both as a brooch as well as a pendant. Though experimentation with the art of enameling started while Margot was still part of the Los Castillo workshop, it was after her divorce with Antonio that she focused on perfecting it in her own, independent taller. And perfect it she did...

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...

Hallmarks date this Hector Aguilar necklace 1948-1962. It's a beautiful heavy hand-wrought necklace in a seldom seen design.

Composed of twenty-two panels which resemble a lyre, executed in .940 silver with a warm patina, this piece is collector quality.

Measures 16" closed, wearable length. Width is 1/2".

Substantial in weight, at 90.3 grams.

Signed and hallmarked ".940 HA Taxco Mexico", with the eagle assay 9.

In excellent vintage conditio...

Excellent vintage Sigi sterling and jasper bangle with two hinges. Marked SIGI, STERLING, HECHO EN MEXICO, and with design number 244. C. 1960. This piece is pictured on page 198 of "Mexican Silver" by Morrill and Berk. With a slide clasp and safety catch. Substantial at 71 grams/2.5 ounces. An outstanding mid-century modern piece.

1 1/2 inches wide at center and 7 inches inside circumference. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

This mid-century bracelet from Antonio Pineda is one of his most spectacular modernist designs. Referred to as his "Saturn", "Ball Bearing", or "Ball & Sphere" bracelet, it's a heavy chunky very substantial piece. A bracelet which will not fail to be immediately noticed, and one which is pure luxe. It's a book-piece design which is shown on page 52 of Gobi Stromberg's "Silver Seduction : The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda", it's referred to as "Bracelet with spheres framed by oppo...

How often does one find a ring by renowned Taxco modernist Enrique Ledesma? Let me answer my question - almost never! Over the years of my buying, selling and researching vintage Mexican silver jewelry, I have come upon a few examples, almost all of them adorned with a color-change sapphire. I had never seen a ring in the design I am presenting here until I discovered this one some time ago. All other pieces in the parure (necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings) can be found relatively easi...

Beautiful geometric design bracelet with a center genuine amethyst stone. Circa 1960. Marked LOS CASTILLO, TAXCO, design number 5, and with the eagle assay mark. Slide clasp. It weighs 78 grams. The center element holds a very large oval faceted amethyst, the shape of which is echoed by the two silver layers which frame it. The center element and the clasp are hinged and articulated. From a collection. 1 3/8 inches wide at the center and 6 1/2 inches wearable length. The color of ...

Delicate and quite romantic with their Spanish Colonial bows and a half-hidden heart motif this set of Los Castillo earrings is elegant and nostalgic at the same time. Crisp finishing and a beautifully glowing patina complete the "package" - I will let the photos say the rest while I provide the specifics: 1 3/8" long by 1 1/8" wide, weighing 11.2 grams (for the set). Fully signed with maker's name as well as "TAXCO" and Eagle 15 assay mark. The set dates in the 1950s-60s and is in excellent vin...

With hallmarks dating 1955-1962, this bracelet from Hector Aguilar is nothing short of spectacular.

It's a hand-wrought piece, with three huge oval azurite stones separated by silver twisted barbells. The back is a long silver ID bar, with the closure tongue sliding into it. Tight, secure, perfect.

This is a book piece design, shown in Penny C. Morrill's "Silver Masters of Mexico". However, this one is quite rare, having three large stones instead of five smaller ones.

A classic design for renowned Taxco modernist Enrique Ledesma, this set of vintage sterling silver Mexican mid-century earrings comes with clips and is set with green inlay, possibly azur-malachite or some kind of agate. There is nothing fussy about the pair - good, honest materials, clarify of form and fluidity of lines. Isn't that the essence of modernism? Measuring 1 1/8" tall by 3/4" wide the earrings weigh 9.8 grams (for the set) and are fully and appropriately signed with maker's name as ...

Hide a secret in this rectangular shaped sterling silver pill box made in Mexico, comprising a centered turquoise stone framed with a silver twisted rope, marked STERLING, 925, Made in Mexico, makers mark, brushed silver inside. Excellent condition. Measures 1 1/2" x 1".

Circa mid-century, this belt buckle is collector quality. It's a huge and heavy piece produced by Antonio Pineda, using his "Lascaux" design. Referred to as Lascaux because it is thought that he was inspired from the ancient cave drawings of Lascaux, France. Pineda had a series of pieces with this design, including pendant necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and pin. I've not had this particular buckle before, but it is spectacular. Executed in almost pure 97% silver. This buckle measure...

Admittedly my favorite Mexican modernist, Salvador Teran seems to have never had a "bad" moment during his career. There is not one piece of his that I have come upon which I have not loved for its quirky abstraction, its sometimes tongue-in-cheek genius, its magical way of playing with layers, abstraction and oxidation. The mod pendant presented here provides a good illustration, I believe, of the point I am trying to make. The rendering borders on cubism yet at the same time, the pendant regis...

Circa mid-century, this Los Castillo bracelet is a book-piece design, known as "Fish in Waves".

Entirely hand-wrought, with amazing detail which is second to none, this bracelet is composed of eight copper domes., each with applied silver work of two fish swimming in the waves, with their tails wrapping around the sides.

Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 3/4", and a width of 3/4". Closure is a "J" hook and eye. Original safety chain attached.

Weighs 46.6 g...

A magnificent and rare sterling and striped agate bracelet by Bent Knudsen, Denmark, circa 1950. The highly polished striped agate stones absolutely pop and the oval shape is a great contrast in design to the alternating square links with cut out circles. The bracelet measures 7 1/4"-7 1/2" around in the inside when closed and is 1 3/4" wide. It weighs a very hefty 137 grams. The original safety chain is intact. Fine original condition, no chips or cracks to the stones. This bracelet may have ne...

Very reminiscent of jewelry created in the 1950s by Graziella Laffi, the Italian-born jewelry designer habitually referred to as “the Spratling of Peru”, this is a rarely surfacing creation of Carmen Beckmann’s. Thick, hand-hammered silver sheet that was then oxidized is used to form the bracelet’s main body. Upon that an impressive fish applique marries the piece’s Arts and Crafts feeling with the stylization of ancient Meso-american glyphs. The applique’s thickness adds sculpturali...

This mid-century bracelet is a superb hand-wrought piece produced by Miguel Garcia Martinez for Rancho Alegre. Plateria Rancho Alegre opened in 1956 by Pedro Pérez. Pérez had been a shop manager for William Spratling prior to establishing Rancho Alegre. The shop carried work from many designers and silversmiths. Miguel Garcia Martinez was the primary designer. This is a huge bracelet, with intricate, exquisitely executed silverwork and a multi-dimensional Pre-Columbian warrior design. ...

Who among lovers of vintage Mexican silver jewelry does not know Margot de Taxco's zodiac treasures? Charms, pendant, charm bracelets and brooches, they come in all those forms and they are avidly collected. Yet how many times have you come upon a mini, almost lingerie size, Margot astrological pin? Rare and sweet as can be, this 1 1/2" Aries beauty is irresistible. I can easily see it worn alongside one of its... "adult" versions, don't you think? Just just a tad over 1 1/2" tall by 13/16" wide...

Possibly my most favorite Carmen Beckmann ring design (an example lives in my jewelry box), her Etruscan style domed creation presented here is an ode to wire-work and micro-beading. It rises regally above the finger yet because of all those curved, glistening surfaces, it never creates problems to the wearer like most rings that are so high do. And though its “stature” is by itself impressive, it is all those nooks and crannies among the profusion of design elements coming together here tha...

Circa mid-century, this is an extremely rare necklace produced by Salvador Teran. The matching bracelet is listed separately. Bottom pic shows the set. Teran worked with William Spratling at Taller de Las Delicias before leaving with his cousins, the Castillo brothers, in 1939 to work with them at their new taller, "Los Castillo." Considered by many to be a genius at designing, Salvador worked at Los Castillo for many years before establishing his own taller "La India Bonita" in 1952. Th...