I don't use the term "rare" very often when presenting my jewelry yet in this case, I just had to! Because this specific version of one of my favorite designs, the multi-row repousse semi-spheres hinged bracelets usually adorned with turquoise cabs, is indeed very very difficult to come upon. What elevates the bracelet at hand above and beyond other similar examples is the sheer size of the repousse semi-spheres that make up its two "wings"...
Superb Necklace by the famous Fred Davis featuring cabochon Amethyst stones set at the center of round silver links alternating with silver links in a shield shape. One of his most iconic designs, it measures 16 1/2" long by 7/8" wide. Hallmarked on one link with the FD mono along with "Silver" on a second links and "Made in Mexico" on a third. Good condition with light wear and tarnish, stones have the typical inclusions (one stone has a very small surface chip on the stone's reverse...
A bold beautiful Mexican Silver & Amethyst bracelet by the famous Fred Davis. Each of the six heavy sterling silver links is set at the center with a deep purple amethyst cabochon stone. The bracelet measures 8" long by 1 1/4" wide and it weighs 60.7 grams. Hallmarked with the FD mono, Silver Mexico. Some light age related wear and tarnish. The amethyst have the typical inclusions and are smooth to the touch. Fold over clasp. A fantastic bracelet by an important jeweler.
Picture in the book Silver Seductions is a version of this fantastic Antonio Pineda Silver and Amethyst Bracelet. It features heavy open work links inset with marquise cut stones. It measures 7" long by 1" wide and weighs 86.5 grams. Hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco Crown, 970, Sterling Mexico and the eagle stamp 17. With a box clasp and attached safety chain, it is in good condition with only age related wear and tarnish. The amethyst stones have the typical inclusions...
This elegant work of art is a 1940's Spratling design. The ring stands a bit over 1" high. The ring size is about 7 1/2. It is in beautiful condition with some surface wear. Hallmarked SPRATLING SILVER MADE IN MEXICO.
Unique cone shaped deep Black Onyx stones are set along a swirl of smaller silver cones to create these fantastic modernist earrings in a style known as "Gladiator". Beautifully designed the bottom end of the earring curves slightly under your ear lobe. They measure 1" long by 3/4" wide and together they weigh 15.4 grams. Hallmarked Hecho en Mexico with the eagle stamp on one earring and 970 with the Antonio Taxco Crown on the other...
This classic Antonio Pineda bracelet has the bold sculpted style he is known for with thick and heavy horseshoe shaped links crafted in his favorite 970 silver. Measures 8" long, a longer and hard to find length by 7/8" wide and it weighs a substantial 85.6 grams. In good vintage condition with only light age related wear and minor tarnish. There is a secure box clasp and safety chain. Hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, 970, Taxco, Silver and the eagle stamp...
A delightful late Victorian or Edwardian pendant in the form of a poodle jumping through a hoop. The wonderfully detailed poodle is cast in sterling silver and the hoop is 14K gold. The dog is fully three-dimensional, and the eyes are set with small pyrope garnets. The pendant is marked “14K Sterling.”
- Origin: America, ca. 1910
- Condition: excellent
- Dimensions: 1-9/16” x 3/8” x 1-1/4”
Weight: 11.2 grams
An excellent late Victorian silver baton link watch chain, the batons decorated with niello in a checkboard pattern. The batons are joined by gilt silver curb links. Even the dog clip and bolt clasps are enhanced with striped niello. The chain is stamped “800.”
- Origin: Switzerland, ca. 1900
- Condition: excellent, all niello intact
- Length: 16-1/2”
- Weight: 10.4 grams
It looks like this is a Matl year for One Good Eye Silver and I couldn't be happier about it! A few months ago I presented a Deco Matilde Poulat cross pendant necklace with kneeling angels and today I am featuring another, possibly earlier, variation of the design but this one wrought in fine, .980 silver...
Sold through Plateria Cortes this Taxco mid-century silver and stone necklace is signed by Enrique Ledesma and indeed considered a classic example of the Mexican modernist. Ledesma excelled in the marriage of sterling and semi-precious or hard stones is sleek, minimalist designs so his jewelry has a timeless appeal and is very much relevant today as it was when it first saw the day of light...
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...
One of the most interesting - and few - female figures of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance, Doris Smith Chamberlin was a Texas-born American who decided to move to Mexico in the 1940s to open her own workshop after having completed post-graduate studies in art and having taught woodworking, textile-making and silver-smithing for a few years in California (I am grateful to Decotini for the information)...
One of the few female designers of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance that we know of, Bernice Goodspeed arrived in Mexico's capital in 1930, according to Bille Hougart. Even though she and her painter husband, Carl Pappe, identified as writers and artists primarily, they opened a shop in Taxco where they sold not only their books and artwork but also jewelry that Bernice herself designed...
An iconic personality for advocates of female empowerment, Jeanne d’ Arc is not a figure I expected to see on a piece of jewelry by the Los Castillo. I look at the pendant and I see Margot de Taxco at her drawing table, sketch pencil in hand, making the French heroine materialize on paper before she is cast in sterling silver...
An antique silver - most probably sterling - watch fob with original chain and dog clip, this sweet little find is, I believe, from the late Victorian / Edwardian period. There is nothing mundane about it either - I find the basketweave ribbon that runs the fob's perimeter at the waist eye-catching as well as the wire-work above it. Both elements enhance the orb's sculpturality which is, of course, underscored by oxidation and patina...
This amazing and beautiful necklace by Hector Aguilar is crafted in his favorite 940 Silver and is known as his "Six Spheres" design. It measures 19" long by 1 1/2" wide and weighs an impressive 233.4 grams. Hallmarked "HA, Taxco, 940". Secure box clasp. No damage noted. This necklace is featured in many books on Mexican Silver and is a fine example of this style.
An early Mexican Deco silver repousse "mask" brooch, this pieces is wrought in sterling and its maker adorned their portrait with a long, dangling earring. It is evident from the piece's craftsmanship that its creator was well-trained maestro. Despite the thinner gauge of sterling sheet used, there is depth and good definition in the repoussage which result in easily "readable" details and good sculpturality. I have had many "mask" jewelry over the years by both anonymous and well-known makers a...