Catalog (156)

Rare, intricately woven sterling silver pin designed and signed circa 1940's by Taxco, Mexico artist Hector Aguilar(1905-86). Pin measures 2 1/2" across. Weight- 28 grams. Likely based on a pre - Columbian design this pin weaves thick silver strands into a sensuous eye catching form. Fully hallmarked HA TAXCO 940 eagle 9. Beautiful original condition with no dents, dings or repairs. Pin back and safety lock work perfectly. The pin was purchased directly from Hector Aguilar's TALLER BORDA work shop in Taxco. It's original TALLER BORDA box is included and is a desirable collectible item in it's own right.

Handsome hand hammered copper and brass water or beverage pitcher designed and signed circa 1940's by Taxco, Mexico artist Hector Aguilar (1905-86). Pitcher measures 7" tall, 6" from spout to handle. The base measures 5 1/2" across. Excellent condition. No dents, dings or repairs. Beautiful unpolished patina. Fully hallmarked HA TAXCO 994 for copper content. This design is pictured on p. 2 of SILVER MASTERS OF MEXICO by Penny Morrill. Aguilar designs are featured in the permanent 20th Century Mexican silver collection at Los Angeles County Museum of Art - LACMA.

Eye catching hand forged sterling silver pin designed and signed circa 1940's by Taxco, Mexico silver Maestro Hector Aguilar (1905-86). Brooch measures 3" long X 1 1/4" high. Both pin and 7 cascabels are in beautiful condition with no dents or dings. Pin back and safety lock work well. Fully hallmarked on reverse HA TAXCO STERLING MADE IN MEXICO. Likely inspired by a Pre-Columbian design.

This hand crafted silver box was designed & signed c. 1940's by renowned artist Hubert Harmon during his short time in Taxco, Mexico. Weighing 265 grams or 9.4 oz. the piece measures 5" long X 3" wide X 1/2" deep. The hand carved amethyst stones & silver are in beautiful condition. Harmon's sense of humor & whimsy are evident in this design where he uses his trade mark "bare feet with wings" along with the face & body of an angel & a carved amethyst star in the sky above. An informative section on Harmon can be found on p. 138 of Mexican Silver by Penny Morrill.

Twin fish necklace in amethyst and brass signed MAYA MEXICO after a design first introduced by Hubert Harmon (c.1940-50). This necklace will comfortably fit up to a 15 inch neck. The two fish and amethyst drop measure 5 1/2 inches across. Both fish have an amethyst eye and a faceted amethyst stone extending from their tail. A single amethyst cab hangs between the 2 fish. Each brass chain measures 5 1/2 inches.

Hubert Harmons' whimsical designs never fail to bring a smile and provoke thought. His c. 1940's mask pendant or belt buckle is 5 1/2" across X 2 1/4 high. The raised onyx eyes and silver are in beautiful condition. The mask & detachable sterling chain weighs 100 grams. 2 loops on the front ends of the face were perhaps meant for attaching feathers or some other adornment. The loops on the back accommodate a belt. Fully hallmarked on the back. Harmons' works are rare as he only created in Taxco, Mexico for a short time in the 1940's. This design was featured in the WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENNAISNCE museum exhibit & is pictured on p. 115 of the exhibit catalog by museum curator & author Penny Morrill.

The sterling silver cat & fish pin was designed by Hubert Harmon in the 1940's. Fish with hook measures 5" long. Cat head with cascabells is 1 1/2" X 1 1/2". The connecting chain is 10" long. Cat has amethyst eyes, fish with amethyst eye & amethyst tail detail. Pin back and locks work perfectly. Beautiful condition. Harmon designs are rare as he only created his Taxco, Mexico silver pieces for a very few years in the 1940's. His works are featured in WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE & MEXICAN SILVER by Penny Morrill.

Early handmade arts and crafts copper and mirror box designed and signed by Taxco, Mexico artist Hector Aguilar. Meaures 6 1/2"L X 4 1/4"D X 2 1/4"H. Mirrors on 5 sides are in fine vintage condition with no cracks or chips. The copper has a beautiful untouched patina. Two corners on the base are slightly seperated which appear to be original to the handmaking of the piece. See pictures. Hinged mirror top opens to a copper interior. Insured shipping included within the U.S.

This pin was orginally designed by Mexico artist Frederick Davis in the 1930's. This piece is signed MEXICO SILVER but without the FD mark. Measuring 3 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 wide. 8 cab amethyst stones guard a large faceted amethyst in the center. Pin back works perfectly. Tiny flea bite in the center stone that can be felt but not seen. No dents, dings or repairs to silver.

This large brooch was designed & signed by Mexico City artist Frederick Davis (1880-1961). Measuring 4.5" X 4.5" the piece weighs 65 grams. Beautiful condition with excellent patina. Pin back & safety lock are tight & secure. Penny Morrill featured this Davis design in the William Spratling & The Mexican Silver Renaissance exhibit & the catalog p. 122. Rosa Covarrubias, wearing this brooch at a dinner hosted by she and her husband Miguel is pictured in the catalog p. 121. Miguel, back to camera, is seated in a signed Spratling chair in the photo. Davis designs are included in the 20th century Mexican collection at LACMA.

Exquisite & rare this lifelike sterling silver, copper & brass angelfish brooch was designed in the late 1930's by Margot Van Voorhies for her husband's taller Los Castillo. This wearable work of art measures 3 3/4" high X 3 1/4" across & weighs 42 grams. The finely detailed angelfish floats through waving brass seaweed above a copper conch shell. Beautiful condition with excellent patina. Pin back and safety catch are tight and secure. When her marriage to Antonio Castillo ended Margot went on to open her own famous taller - MARGOT DE TAXCO. Fully signed on the back LOS CASTILLO STERLING TAXCO design # 109.

Finely detailed, this vintage 1940's Los Castillo brooch measures 3 1/4" H. X 2 1/2" & weighs 45 grams. Both pinback and safety catch are in perfect working order. The piece carries the 1940's Los Castillo linear hallmarks along with the taller's eagle 15 assay mark. Beautiful condition and patina. Truly a wearable work of art.

Early 1940's sterling silver necklace signed by Taxco, Mexico silver Maestro Los Castillo. The design features 11 chanel set cabochon globes of cobalt blue glass. 3 globes are framed by abstract silver agave leaves. Necklace measures 15 1/2" wearable inches long. The center pendant is 2" from top to bottom. Hallmarked on the back with the early linear LOS CASTILLO TAXCO STERLING MEXICO and pattern # 298. Gorgeous unpolished patina. Beautiful vintage condition with no nicks or cracks to glass. No dents, dings or repairs to the silver. The necklace was most likely designed by Margot De Taxco in the early years when she was married to Antonio Castillo before she opened her own taller. This necklace design is featured on p. 103 of MARGOT VAN VOORHIES by Penny Morrill. Design also pictured on p.90 of SILVER SEDUCTION: THE ART OF MODERNIST ANTONIO PINEDA by Gobi Stromberg.

Beautiful sterling silver bracelet signed by Los Castillo circa 1950's. Weight 90 grams, 3.01 oz. 2 repousse curved fern frond silver leafs connected by a tight spring hinge are used to form a bracelet 3 1/2" wide at the front tapering to 1 1/8" at the back. The inner circumference of the bracelet when closed measures 6 1/2" but expands to fit a larger wrist or arm. This design can probably be attributed to Margot de Taxco during the time that she was married to Antonio Castillo. The bracelet is hallmarked LOS CASTILLO STERLING MADE IN MEXICO eagle # 15, pattern no. 238. No dents, dings or repairs. Fantastic patina that only comes with age.

This impressive 2 3/4" sterling silver cuff studded with 30 amethyst cabs was hallmarked c. 1940 by Manuel Altamirano, senior silversmith in Hector Aguilar's Taller Borda. Interior length measures 5 1/2" end to end. The gap opening is 1 1/2". Terminals measure 2 3/4" wide, center front is 2 1/2" wide. Weight 79 grams. The bracelet is in beautiful condition. See p. 198 of Silver Masters of Mexico for more detailed information on Altamirano. Pieces signed Altamirano are scarce.

This vintage, finely detailed feathered serpent pin was designed by Taxco, Mexico artist Margot Van Voorhies. The brooch is 4" X 2" & weighs 28 grams. The darkened patina emphasizes the hand wrought beauty of the repousse' work. The piece is in beautiful condition. Both the pin back and safety lock are in excellent working order. Fully hallmarked on the back of the pin. Margot de Taxco designs are included in WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENNISANCE by Penny Morrill. Margot's designs are also included in the permanent Mexican Silver collection at LACMA.

Rare sterling silver and enamel necklace and bracelet "Jazz" set designed and signed (c.1950's)by Taxco, Mexico artist Margot Van Voorhies(1896-1985). Bracelet measures 7" long and 15/16" wide. Necklace measures 17" long with the center motif measuring 2 3/4" by 1 1/4". Both necklace and bracelet are signed MARGOT DE TAXCO, eagle 16, STERLING, MADE IN MEXICO, 5743. Beautiful vintage condition with no chips, cracks or enamel loss. This set is pictured in the newly released book MARGOT VAN VOORHIES THE ART OF MEXICAN ENAMELWORK by Penny Morrill p.152.

This vintage sterling silver necklace was designed and signed by Mexico City artist Matilde Poulat in the 1950's. The necklace is 1 1/2" wide and 17 wearable inches long. Timeless in design, it looks fantastic with formal or casual wear. Weight is 135 grams. Both stones and silver are in beautiful condition with excellent patina. Clasp is tight and secure. Fully hallmarked on reverse including the eagle mark 129. Matl designs are featured in the permanent early 20th century Mexican silver collection at LACMA.