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...

An unusual and elegant sterling bracelet with saw tooth bezel set carnelian by Frank Patania. Measuring 5 3/4" around in the inside plus an additional 1 1/2" opening, it is 1 3/8" wide and weighs 85 grams. Fine original condition and signed as shown. A bold mid-century design with great stones.

Circa mid-century, this is an extremely rare necklace produced by Salvador Teran. The matching bracelet is listed separately...

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...

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...

A vintage enamelled sterling silver class ring from the High School of Commerce, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (merged 1966, now closed). This size 5-1/4 ring features the 5/8 x 7/16" enamel crest, and it weighs 2.5 grams. It is unmarked but tests as sterling and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, dents, bends, corrosion, losses, damage or repairs...

Circa mid-century, this is a spectacular set of bracelet and earrings from Sigi Pineda. Bracelet can be worn by either a man or woman. The bracelet features a huge and gorgeous gold sheen obsidian stone, which measures just over 1 3/8" square. The stone was cut so that ribbons of gold sheen run on the diagonal. Bracelet is hinged on two sides to open nice and wide and easily fits over the wrist. Closure is a tight and secure slide in tongue in groove, and a safety latch...

Circa mid-century, this parure is an extremely rare design from Margot van Voorhies Carr / Margot de Taxco.

The original design drawing is shown in the Penny C. Morrill book "Margot Van Voorhies: The Art of Mexican Enamelwork".

The necklace consists of three tiers alternating with two round button links, and a thick chain on each side with a ball tassel on one and a hook on the other. This is original to the necklace...

Decorated with classic Nordic scene of a manned sled drawn by a moose in a snowy landscape, framed by a colorful aurora borealis. The enamel exposes nice guilloche work underneath, in a modified lozenge-shaped frame. The back bears the mark of Ivar T. Holth and the Norway mark for sterling silver. The silver is gilded. The pin measures 1 3/8 inches long by 7/8 inch wide. Weight: 5.7 grams

A beautiful sterling and turquoise bracelet by Frank Patania Sr. This is a unique design with a center medallion featuring three saw tooth bezel set turquoise. The cuff sides have texturing in the middle, topped with silver dots. Measuring 5 1/2" around in the inside with an additional 1 1/4" opening , it is 1 1/8" wide and weighs 61 grams. It is in fine original condition and signed as shown. Frank Patania Sr. came to Santa Fe, N.M. from Italy and opened The Thunderbird Shop in 1927...

Spectacular execution in this sterling and saw tooth bezel set coral ring by Santo Domingo silversmith Julian Lovato. He began working in 1938 and was a silversmith for Frank Patania Sr. in the Thunderbird Shop. This ring was made during his time there as it has his own signature as well as the Patania Thunderbird Shop mark, sterling IHM (Indian Hand Made). Julian Lovato was the winner of numerous awards for his fine creations during his lifetime...

Beautiful dramatic handmade modernist necklace composed of sterling elements connected with brass or bronze links, with a very large bezel set onyx stone at the center. Not marked but the silver elements test positive for sterling silver. Circa 1960. Substantial at 162 grams. Wearable length is 21 inches. 2 inches wide in the center. Excellent condition. Photos enlarged to show detail.

An amazing sterling French Cuff Bracelet by the well known Arizona modernist silversmith, H. Fred Skaggs. Has three large jewels in varying shades of purple and pink and one small purple stone on the other end. Not sure if they are stones or art glass...

Circa mid-century, this Antonio Pineda bracelet features ten oval moonstone cabochons nestled between ten curved silver panels.

This is a chunky modernist piece executed in almost pure 97% silver. The moonstones are magnificent, exhibiting a beautiful blue adularescence when the light hits it. It has a seamless appearance when closed, as the push button for the clasp is topped with a moonstone.

Measures a closed, wearable length of just over 7" and a width of 5/8". Wei...

This mid-century necklace from Antonio Pineda is an absolutely spectacular showpiece. It's composed of obsidian and silver, both in 5 point diamond shapes, which form a "V" in the front center. There is a pearl offset on the left front. This is a very rare piece, and it looks amazing on the wearer. The obsidian centerpiece is slightly curved so that it contours perfectly on the neck. Extremely flattering. Measures a closed, wearable length of 17 1/2". Weight is 86.6 grams. Sign...

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

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...

With hallmarks dating 1953-1962, this pin was produced by Hector Aguilar.

This is an outstanding piece, and one which I have never seen before. This gorgeous bird has at it's center a large round bezel-set onyx cabochon. Open-back repoussé silver tail feathers, win, and head extend from the center.

Measures 3 3/16" long, 1 5/8" wide.

Weight is 19.6 grams.

Signed and hallmarked .940 HA Taxco along with the eagle assay 9.

In excellent vintage...