Catalog (327)

I love pearls and when they are nested in an Antonio Pineda fine silver modernist setting, I consider myself in heaven! All the more so when it’s three glorious, softly shimmering pearls we are talking about. Graduated in size and each one a different hue, they are comfortably sitting in their precious channel, as if their only concern is to showcase the variety of nacre colors. The ring is a sz 8 1/2 US and 7/16” wide. It weighs 12.2 grams and is signed with Antonio's crown as shown alongs...

The combination of fine purity silver with silky, shimmering pearls is among my favorite when it comes to Antonio Pineda’s work. And the modernist floral brooch I am presenting here is a superb example not only of the renowned Taxco maestro’s exceptional sense of design but also of the quality of materials he used. I love the fluid, curvaceous body of the elongated “pod” and the tender forcefulness (I know, a contradiction in terms, right?) with which the stamens emerge out of it. Slick ...

The combination of fine, high purity silver and moonstone is one of my favorite and was equally favored, it seems, by Antonio Pineda, Taxco's renowned modernist. Set in three-dimensional 970 silver settings the stones at hand have a luminous pearlescence that draws the eye into their magical depths, and perfectly reflect the warm glow of the precious metal surrounding them. Antonio's jewelry is characterized by an unfailing sense of easy luxury and that feeling is present here as well. Substanti...

Potent design and perfect execution combine in this set of Antonio Pineda cufflinks shaped like bull skulls. Fine, .970 silver with a satin finish (which I love here!), horns of what I believe is obsidian and not onyx (they test as glass on my gem tester, which is what obsidian is, volcanic glass) and a haunting interplay of negative and positive space in the casting of the animal's skull bequeath an other-worldly aura to an already impressive pair - and I mean impressive both in its boldness as...

Ideal for Mother's Day (yes, there is still time to bring it home) this antique Victorian brooch is perfect to show your love and affection year round as well - whether to somebody else or yourself is up to you to decide! Wrought in the aesthetic style its decorative elements develop on different plains thus adding architectural interest and a dramatic depth of field. Tender roses in full bloom and leaves, some raised, some flat, textured with stippling and hand-etched details hold center stage ...

Two impressive winged lions with their backs on each other make up the body of this antique yellow and rose gold-filled watch key. Part of a small collection I acquired some time ago that will be presented within the next couple of weeks, it is a very nicely detailed figural "bauble", perfect to be enjoyed alone or added to your neck mess. The watch key measures 1 3/4" tall (including bail and pin) by 1 1/8" wide and it weighs 4.8 grams (for reference only since there is no precious metal here)....

Beautifully worked and quite generous in size this late Victorian / Edwardian locket pendant is, I am assuming, a US-made piece since it is not hallmarked at all. Elegantly monogrammed on the back, it opens to reveal a glass-protected case for the photo of your loved one. In the front, the oval reserve holds a highly detailed representation of Spring with three cupids, very much in the spirit of Franz Zatzka's allegorical painting, while the perimeter is further decorated with impressed scrolls ...

I have had this antique Indian Raj bracelet in my collection of unlisted jewelry for quite a while and from time to time, I would take it out and marvel at the miniature paintings that form its links. Colorful, minutely detailed and kept under glass, I think they depict long past scenes of Hanuman Jayanti - the feast and parade to mark the birthday of Lord Hanuman, Indian god of wisdom, strength and devotion. There are no hallmarks or signatures on the bracelet which makes dating it very difficu...

Sweet, romantic, a little treasure to adorn your button-down shirt or even a light scarf, this period Art Nouveau sterling silver and enamel bar pin was crafted in London, England in the opening years of the previous century. Silky, off-white magnolia flowers with just a touch of orange/yellow where the petals meet the stem and shimmering green leaves against a pearlescent background take center stage here. In almost perfect condition and such a treat on a rainy day like today it measures 2” ...

The busy, ever-changing worlds of the bottom of the sea and the shores of tranquil lakes unfold themselves in the carefully worked repousse silver frames surrounding the chunky turquoise "rocks" that adorn this early 20th c. Chinese necklace and earrings set. I never cease to be amazed at the amount of minute detail Chinese silversmiths were able to condense into such small spaces without ever losing the crispness of each motif. It is very difficult to create jewelry so generously embellished wi...

Created using the shadowbox technique a row of silver flowers and leaves elegantly circles the wrist in this early 20th c. Chinese bangle bracelet. The floral and foliate motifs are set against a dramatically oxidized background visible through the openings in the cut-work and they are enhanced with hand-etched details. Quite often antique hollow bangles make it to us scarred with the experiences of a long life but the example at hand is unscathed, its beauty glowing with the patina of time and ...

The Deco year saw an influx of gorgeous jewelry out of China in which, more often than not, contemporary silver work was combined with antique elements like carved semi-precious stone buttons, medallions and even mah-jhong and other game pieces. The ring I am presenting here is an immigrant of that era. Delicate silver vermeil adjustable shank and an old amethyst "button" with a lotus flower carving come together in an understated, classically elegant combination. And did you note the little det...

Meticulously worked and perfectly finished this antique silver repousse cuff bracelet is obviously of Asian origin but I am not quite sure of its exact provenance. I don’t profess any kind of deeper knowledge in the world of Asian jewelry and the existence of cross-pollination and diasporic artisan communities throughout the region (the Indian and Chinese being prominent among them) make its identification a challenge for me. Yet whatever its birthplace might be, this cuff is a little gem of r...

A nicely cast sterling silver band of nautilus shells surrounds an oval, semi-translucent piece of gorgeous carnelian in this Arts and Crafts brooch presented here. I have had this piece for a little while and was reluctant to part with it because of its tactile beauty, its warm patina and the color of the stone that brings to mind warm, aromatic caramel. I am assuming this is a native, US-made brooch because it is simply marked for metal quality and I suspect it is a studio-made pin. I just wis...

The Arts and Crafts is one of my favorite periods in jewelry design - emphasis on motifs from nature, design that focuses on craftsmanship while allowing the viewer to follow the artisan's hand, "honest" materials without necessarily seeking out the most expensive metals and gemstones, it was a real break with the fussy excesses of Victorian aesthetics. The silver and banded agate intaglio ring presented here is an example that brings together all the above. Impeccably carved into the stone taki...

True to the basic principles of the Arts and Crafts movement, this silver and sodalite ring brings together careful, honest craftsmanship in an uncomplicated, clear design that respects the nature of the materials used and brings out their natural beauty. I love the deep color of the stone with its veins of black and the spiderweb of white that just makes it through to the surface. I appreciate the light hand-hammered texture of the precious metal and the oxidation that has been ingeniously appl...

True to the philosophy of the Arts and Crafts movement which valued artistry and craftsmanship at the expense of ostentatious materials this early 20th c. ring is wrought in silver and centered by a glorious Peking glass cabochon. The ring’s bezel is supported by laurel leaves, their layering given depth by oxidation while the white swirls in the green cab bestow it the dynamism of turbulent water. Currently a sz 4.25 US the ring is easily resizable. Its face is 1 1/8” N-S and 5/8” E-W, h...

Straddling the divide between Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts design, this hinged sterling silver buckle bracelet was, I believe, made in the USA based on its hallmarking. The entire surface of the front "wing" is etched with ivy leaves, a motif beloved by the Victorians it seems, while the back is left blank, as is usually the case with bracelets of this type. I love the curve of the buckle's prong that brings to mind avian talons and the way the end of the silver "belt" rises slightly beyond the...