One of the most talented Taxco maestros, Gerardo Lopez was exceptional in the art of repoussage and his jewelry is sought after and avidly collected for its quality and inventive motif combinations. I have suggested in the past that he must have worked for the Los Castillo and / or Margot de Taxco because many of the motifs he uses are also found in the famous workshops' creations...

An ode to overlay, beading and masterfully applied oxidation, this figural little Mexican Deco brooch is a depiction of Ozomahtli, the monkey companion of god Xochipili, associated with play and merry-making. I could have easily sworn that this is an example of Francisco Rivera’s work yet since it is not signed for maker, I can only suggest this might be the case...

Without a doubt, the Double Chinese Dragon necklace is one of Margot's most sought after and seldom seen pieces. The repoussé silver work is superbly executed. Constructed so that it lays perfectly on the neck. Opposing Chinese dragons are at the center of this piece, which measures a closed, wearable length of 16". A variation of this necklace is shown in Penny C...

Circa 1960's - 70's, this Carmen Beckmann cuff pulls out all the stops. It's an exceptional bracelet which I have not seen before, and believe to be very rare. Seven Mexican fire opals of varying sizes are at front and center. The stones are magnificent, and have flashes of green, orange, blue, and purple. Framed on each side with a raised abstract silver shapes with oxidized recesses. Measures 6" inside edge to edge, with an additional gap/opening of 1 3/16"...

This spectacular ring produced by Fred Davis is a very rare piece. Hand-wrought with superb repoussé silverwork and a huge oval amethyst gemstone, it's a ring which will not fail to be noticed. Measures about 6.375 on a ring sizer. The face measures 1 3/16" north to south. The stone is gorgeous, with quartz marbling and natural inclusions. Setting has four forked prongs. Signed and hallmarked with a conjoined FD and Mexico Silver...

This heavy chain link bracelet with a turquoise tipped toggle is the work of Antonio Pineda. It's a stunning piece, composed of fifteen thick wide links of almost pure 97% silver. A very substantial bracelet which drapes over the wrist and look amazing...

One of Taxco’s two “Miguels”, Miguel Melendez started his career with William Spratling at Las Delicias, moved on to work with the Los Castillo and later Margot de Taxco and in the early 1950s opened his own workshop. A talented modernist with deep roots in Mexico’s rich archaeological history, he loved combining silver with hard- and semi-precious stones and excelled in two-sided pendants that married stone or shell inlay with abstract overlay on highly oxidized surfaces...

One of Taxco's foremost modernists, Enrique Ledesma was also an accomplished lapidary and his slick, mid-century jewelry often feature a seamless marriage of silver with semi-precious and other stones. In the bracelet presented here, the green inlay is ridged and discreetly held in its sterling setting creating a row of elongated shield-shaped links that moves smoothly and easily conforms to the wrist...

Margot de Taxco loved combination pin / pendant necklaces and she designed them so that you could take the brooch away and still link the two lengths of chain and wear them alone as an elegant choker. I suspect that many pieces were comprised of inter-changeable elements so if you had this set and a different pin/pendant out of her “hand-hammered” line, for example, you could theoretically attach to this chain and enjoy that second brooch as a necklace too...

Profusely studded with the Etruscan style’s tell-tale florets this long Mexican lariat necklace was made in Cuernavaca, one of the country’s main silver-smithing centers. A rather rare jewel of the Deco period, it consists of a long strand of short barrel beads strung on flexible silver wire. Classically elegant yet with body and strong presence, the necklace has developed a deep patina over the years...

I have written in the past that Elna jewelry is more often than not very generous in proportions but this stunner of a bracelet goes above and beyond that! It is not just its sheer monumentality that impresses. It is also the classically "archaeological" character of the design itself which is expressed by the carved stone "mask" of an ancient Aztec Eagle warrior. Awesome in its military magnificence, the portrait is flanked by highly stylized butterfly (?) links with big cabochons set in bezels...

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...

Perfect for those breezy nights by the beach, this vintage Mexican silver Carmen Beckmann brooch is shaped like a starfish (some see it as a sea anemone too) and centered by a turquoise of the softest sea foam color. I love Beckmann jewelry - when she was inspired, she created some amazing pieces. Simple yet not simplistic, the almost abstract a-symmetry of the silver work is reflected in the shape of the stone. Measuring 2 1/2” wide by 1 3/4” tall the brooch weighs 20.2 grams and is fully...

From his third design period, hallmarks date this Spratling cuff 1964-1967. It's a book-piece design, shown on p.109 of Spratling Silver: A Field Guide. There are ten silver rivets. Should fit up to a 6 1/2" wrist. Width is 1 5/8" in the center front. Opening/gap is 1 1/16". Weight is 53.4 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the WS Print Square "WS William Spratling .925 Taxco Mexico" and the eagle assay 63. In fine vintage condition.

Circa 1930's-40's, this hand-wrought necklace is hallmarked with a simple early mark "Silver Mexico". I have previously had the identical design which was produced by Rafael Dominguez, as well I've seen it with the Antonio Pineda early mark. Twenty-seven lyre shaped panels are linked together with rectangular connectors topped with a copper bead set in the center of two silver beads. The looped hook closure is topped with four beads, copper alternating with silver. The lyre panels are deep...

The "queen" of shadowbox designs, Victoria - otherwise Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti - also excelled in the "married metals" technique. Her work is inspired, of the highest quality and today it is considered part of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance design index. The adjustable sterling silver ring I am presenting here is out of her coveted "angel" parure. The form does not come up very often and I am happy to have come upon a beautifully aged example. Beading and black-as-pitch oxidation in the...

Striding the divide between classic Mexican and Native American / Southwestern design this sterling silver bracelet is one of the most beautiful examples of the “marriage” I have seen. This hybridization is not, in fact, accidental as it is known from the relevant literature that Mexican maestros were a significant factor in the development of Native American silversmithing. The hinged bangle at hand has its front “wing” stippled and chased with a ribbon design and upon it the anonymous ...

The "Silver by Tono" hallmark dates this supremely rare piece 1948-1953. This is a book-piece design, shown on p. 89 of Silver Seduction. Composed of two fuchsia flowers with hand-carved jade along with leaves, the larger flower dangles to allow this pin different looks depending on how the pin is hung. Measures 3 3/8" tall, 2 3/4" wide. Weight is 36.7 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Silver by Tono Mexico", along with the eagle assay 17. Collector quality, in excellent vintage ...