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...

Bearing the signature of Pedro Castillo this bracelet is, for me, a fusion of classic Taxco "arhaeological" as well as modernist elements. The overlay is immaculately crafted - one would never expect less from a Castillo - and the design lends itself to several readings...

One rarely sees work produced by La Joya. La Joya designs are unique and original, the craftsmanship superb. This necklace dates to pre-1948. It's a definite statement piece, adorned with 7 amethyst cabochons. The largest of them measures 7/8" x 7/16", and sits on the center "ribbon". Centerpiece measures just under 5 1/2" across. The amethysts are beautiful stones, well matched in color, with natural inclusions...

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...

A classic early Matilde Poulat Mexican silver bracelet, its textured sterling wire-work adorned with beading and coral and turquoise cabochons, this piece was made in the 1934-48 period of Matl's creative life as is indicated by its hallmarks. Part of her "flat" as opposed to "repousse" jewelry, the bracelet is perfectly articulated and responds to the wrist's every move in a effortless, gracious way...

Not much is known - if anything at all - about Ars Plata whose signature is found on the Mexican silver and amethyst dangle earrings at hand. Bille Hougart lists an "Art Plat." in his book on Mexican silver hallmarks but I am not sure the two workshops / retailers (?) are the same. This lack of information is part of the field's reality yet it is always exciting to find a name not often encountered...

When I first started my love-affair with vintage Mexican silver jewelry, I found myself intrigued by the work of artists whose names were not among the first ones a new collector would focus on. I love a challenge and seeking out “less celebrated” maestros who nevertheless created superbly crafted jewelry in imaginative designs became my “mission”...

Vintage, rarely seen on the market 940 sterling silver graduated disc bracelet designed and signed circa 1948-62 by famous Taxco, Mexico artist & silver Maestro Hector Aguilar. The center front disc measures 1 1/2" high. The bracelet's inner circumference when closed is 7". Bracelet weighs 85 grams or 3 oz. Slide-in clasp works perfectly. No dents are dings to silver. Beautiful soft original patina. Fully hallmarked on the clasp. This design is pictured on p...

From Spratling's first design period, hallmarks date this pin 1040-1944. This eagle serpent pin has superb repoussé silver work. Oxidized recesses and a highly detailed design really make this a standout piece. Measures 2 5/16" x 1 7/8". Weight is 26 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the WS Print Circle and Spratling Silver. Pin closes with a roller.

Circa pre-1948, this is a spectacular hand-wrought bracelet. It's an exquisitely crafted piece with superb repoussé silver work. Very substantial and dimensional. The amethyst cabochons are well-matched in color. Closure is a pin on a chain . Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 3/4", with a width just shy of 1 1/2". Hallmarked simply "Mexico Silver". Weight is 86.1 grams. In excellent vintage condition.

This necklace was produced by P. Ochoa in Mexico City during the 1930's - 1940's. One seldom comes across the work of this silversmith, whose work closely mirrors that of Matilde Poulat. This necklace is hand-wrought with a carved onyx face/mask sitting within a highly detailed repoussé headdress. The centerpiece measures 1 13/16" x 1 15/16"...

$2,600 Circa 1940-1944, this bracelet is known as "Petate", and is one of Spratling's heaviest and most elusive designs. It's a book-piece design shown in "Dreaming in Silver", and spectacular in every sense. Measures 2 1/8" tall in front. Closed, wearable length is 6 3/4". Closes with a pin. Weight is 126.5 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Spratling Silver, Made in Mexico". Tested to be 98% purity. In excellent vintage condition.

This unique and rare set by the famous Margot de Taxco consists of three matching pieces. All are 1 7/8" wide with one piece measuring 21" long, one measures 10" long and the other measures 2 3/4" long. All pieces have hook closures and can be attached together. The longest and medium pieces are both hallmarked Margot de Taxco, Sterling Made in Mexico along with the design number 5158 and the eagle 16. Very heavy with a total weight of 334 grams...

Exuding a primordial strength and keeping its secrets well hidden under layers of hand-etched scales, beading and overlay this stunning creature - I see it as a sea serpent but on second thought and if those appliques running along its spine are stylized feathers, it could be Quetzalcoatl as easily - is another treasure bearing the signature of Doris and her Corpus Artisans group of maestros. Appreciation for Doris jewelry has been growing steadily since I first started dealing in vintage Mexica...

Circa 1940's, here is a seldom seen pin from noted Taxco designer Hubert Harmon. Harmon was active for a short time, and this Neptune pin is signed and hallmarked with his winged feet and Hubert Harmon marks dating likely 1942-1948.

It's a stunning whimsical pin with Neptune holding his pitchfork, seating upon a large fish with an amethyst cabochon eye. The repoussé silver work is superb. A very unique, very rare piece, perfect for the discerning collector.

Measures 3" lon...

With hallmarks dating 1940-1945, this spectacular bracelet is a very rare and early creation from Los Castillo. It's a huge showpiece, with six rectangular faceted amethyst gemstone surrounded by tiny silver beading. The amethysts are great old Mexican stones, well matched in color, with quartz marbling and natural inclusions. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 1/2", with a width of 1 9/16". Weight is 130.9 grams. Signed and hallmarked with early linear marks "Los Castill...

An early Taxco treasure, this Mexican Deco cuff bracelet is both generous in weight and wrought in fine, .980 silver. The design is classic for the period and I have seen all-silver versions of it over the years by anonymous and recognizable names, that of Emma and La Cucaracha being among the most famous. The marriage of silver and copper that we are treated to here, however, I have never encountered before. Not only is the mixing of the metals unusual - the incorporation of the specific silver...

Intricately constructed of sterling silver & stone this piece was designed c. 1940's by American & Taxco, Mexico artist William Spratling. Measuring 2 1/2" X 2 1/2" the pin weighs 40 grams. This design was included in the museum exhibit William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance & is pictured on p.97 of the museum catalog by curator Penny Morrill. Also pictured on p.48 of Mexican Silver by Penny Morrill & Carole Berk. Rarely seen on the market this museum piece is included in the perma...