This fabulous vintage Antonio Pineda Bracelet has a bold modernist design with links of thick silver in a stylized leaf design. It measures 6 5/8" long by 1" wide and weighs 82.5 grams. Hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco Crown mark, 970, Hecho en Mexico, eagle 17 and the design number ZZ609 - this number shows that the bracelet was made in Antonio's workshop. It is in good condition with only light age related wear and tarnish...

This Erika Hult de Corral bracelet was produced 1960's - 70's. It's a gorgeous modernist design, with eighteen amethyst cabochons and three large oval gold sheen obsidian stones. Measures a closed, wearable length of 7", with a width of 1 1/4". Weight is 94.6 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Ric Taxco", with the design # 125 and the eagle assay 3. In excellent vintage condition.

Hallmarks date this magnificent Matilde Poulat fish necklace 1934-1940. Truly a masterpiece with superb repoussé silver work. There are nine dangling fish, each with a coral eye. Eleven panels are adorned with triple turquoise cabochons. One of her most sought after designs, and quite rare. Measures 16 1/4" closed, wearable length. Center fish dangles 3" tall from top of turquoise to bottom of tail. Weight is 145 grams...

Circa early 1940's, the Lyre necklace is an iconic design from Hector Aguilar. Shown on p. 30 of Silver Masters of Mexico, it's a necklace which drapes beautifully on the neck with a substantial presence. Measures 15 3/4" end to end. Weight is 131.2 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the conjoined HA, Taxco, and 940. In excellent vintage condition.

This is one of our very favorite rings. It would make a lovely engagement ring for a woman who wants something a bit different, and the green & red stones make it great for St. Patrick’s, Christmas, or really any time at all! The central diamond is approximately 20 points (1/5 of a carat, but looks bigger), and is set in platinum. The rest of the setting is made of unmarked but tested 14k gold of a lovely rich yellow. There are 4 tiny rubies and 3 tiny green demantoid garnets...

A true choker-sized necklace by the Los Castillo workshop which can, nevertheless, easily accept a simple extension (please, ask if you need one), this is a design I have always admired for its perfect combination of sterling repousse links and bi-cone (or sometimes even flattened circular) glass beads. Very well made and so easy to enjoy no matter what the occasion is, our version is adorned with amethyst-colored beads that cast a purple shadow on the already warm patina of the silver...

Admittedly my favorite Mexican modernist, Salvador Teran seems to have never had a "bad" moment during his career. There is not one piece of his that I have come upon which I have not loved for its quirky abstraction, its sometimes tongue-in-cheek genius, its magical way of playing with layers, abstraction and oxidation. The mod pendant presented here provides a good illustration, I believe, of the point I am trying to make...

Rare to find and quintessentially Mexican Deco, especially if we are looking at the Mexico City school repousse pieces, these sterling silver rings with their carved stone "masquettes" are the dedicated collector's dream. Yet you don't have to be a collector to enjoy their unique character. What always attracted me to them is their "Arts and Crafts" style silver work which allows you to follow the maestro's creative journey by tracing the marks his/her tools left on the precious metal...

An early design by the Los Castillo taller (could it have been created by their cousin, Salvador Teran, when he was still working for them?), the “fish skeleton” is considered a classic and has seen many emulations and reproductions over the years. The hinged bracelet at hand, wrought in thick silver sheet with copper bead accents, is a modernist treasure that was made for small wrists...

*On Hold* This mid-century masterpiece from Talleres de Los Ballesteros is a book-piece design shown on p. 227 of Warman's Jewelry 3rd Edition. It's an iconic bracelet, with gorgeous faceted amethysts and incised stars which are oxidized in the recesses. The amethysts sit high in four pronged settings. Opens wide to easily fit over the wrist and closes with a tight and secure tongue in box clasp. Closed, interior length is 6 3/4", with a 1 3/4" width. Weight is 122.3 grams...

This bracelet is a seldom seen design from Sigi Pineda. It's a spectacular modernist piece with three faceted stones which graduate in size. At first glance the stones appear to be hematite, but they may well be onyx. Opens at the back nice and wide to easily fit over the wrist. Original safety chain attached. Closed, wearable length is 6 7/8". Width is 1 7/8". Weight is 91.3 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Sigi Tasco Made in Mexico Sterling", with the design #47 and the eagle assay 3...

*On Hold* Circa mid-century, this Los Ballesteros bracelet is a tour-de-force statement piece which immediately garners compliments to the wearer.

It's an iconic book-piece design, shown in "Warman's Jewelry" by Christie Romero, there with amethysts. I have the amethyst bracelet in my shop, as well.

This bracelet features eight faceted stones, in an array of vivid colors, in high five pronged settings. The stones alternate between four and five pointed incised stars with ox...

I am thrilled to be presenting you with this Mexican Deco silver and amethyst glass “masks” and cabs bracelet. This type of multi-row repousse semi-spheres bangle (I like to think of similar bracelets as glorified hinged bangles indeed!) is one of the most sought-after forms in the world of vintage jewelry from Mexico. The particular example, with its heavy patina, its molded elongated masks and the hidden clasp (it is positioned behind one of the faces, as you can see) is a veritable little...

One of the classiest and most classic Mexican Deco jewelry designs, the "shield" necklace is associated with the names of Fred Davis and Abraham Paz but has also been made by other, contemporary maestros both anonymous and "less celebrated". Our sterling and dyed green calcite example belongs in the latter group but, as I have pointed out many times in the past, its "anonymity" does not take away at all from its craftsmanship and good looks. I am fascinated by the myriad of ways in which calcite...

A masterfully crafted, meticulously finished frame of sterling lily pads accented with tiny beading and elegant little wire swirls surrounds a flat-top amethyst gem in the vintage studio ring I am presenting here. This type of silver-work and the specific foliate motif is easily identified as created by Mary Gage, one of the most talented - and indeed most eccentric - silversmiths of the late American Arts and Crafts movement. I have had a few pieces by Gage over the years - she does not seem to...

The "less-is-more" philosophy of modernism and the classic, for Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance, marriage of silver and amethyst come together in this minimalist by-pass ring signed by Doris Corpus Artisans. A daring, Texas-born American who decided to move to Mexico in the 1940s, Doris Smith Chamberlin had her own workshop by 1945 and her commitment to perfection and inspired design resulted in the creation of some truly exceptional jewelry. I have in the past offered examples of the work c...

Matching the "festoon with teardrops" necklace I recently sold, this set of earrings by the Los Castillo workshop is truly glamorous! I love the flair of the bifurcated element at the top with its curvaceous central semi-sphere which mirrors the sculptural elegance of the teardrop. And, please, note the playful articulation of the semi-circular links forming the main dangle. Aren't they just a pleasure? The earrings measure 1 3/4" long by 1 1/4" wide and weigh 17.5 grams (for the set). They are ...

Spratling designed this stunning sterling silver piece during a period of time when he worked to develop a plan modeled on what he had done in Taxco, to help create an economic base for native Alaskans writes Penny Morrill in her book WILLIAM SPRATLING AND THE MEXICAN SILVER RENASSIANCE p.239. Inlaid with azur-malachite the pendant measures 4" X 3". The necklace is 18" long. Signed SPRATLING DE MEXICO & Eagle 13, hallmarks used by Spratling from 1949-51. All in beautiful condition. Pictured in M...

For anniversary or wedding jewelry, there’s nothing more romantic than Alphonse Augis’ love token jewelry. Usually, they are round medallions, but this exceptionally rare piece is in the form of a love letter using a rebus to spell out “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow,” a line from a love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand, author of “Cyrano de Bergerac” in 1889. The word “plus” is symbolized by a plus s...

For anniversary jewelry, there’s nothing more romantic than this rare 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby love token (“medaille d’amour”) ring with a rebus spelling out “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain” (“more than yesterday, less than tomorrow,”) a line from a love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano de Bergerac”) in 1889. The word “plus” is symbolized by a plus sign set with a single diamond and the word “moins” is symbo...

An Art Deco pendant or charm displaying four playing cards each with the pip for an ace worked in black or red enamel. Four aces is an unbeatable hand in poker unless an opponent has a flush. The bottom edge of the charm is engraved “Réussité” (“Success”). The charm and the original jump ring are stamped with French 18K guarantee marks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent, no enamel damage
• Dimensions: 1/2" x 11/16” excluding jump ring
• Weight: ...

One of my favorite "less celebrated" Taxco maestros, Gerardo Lopez has been steadily gaining in popularity among collectors of vintage Mexican silver jewelry. I suspect that he worked for the Los Castillo and / or Margot de Taxco before he started his own taller as his creations are often reminiscent of designs issued by both famous workshops. Lopez's repoussage is masterful and the finishing on his jewelry impeccable. Here, however, he espoused a more "two-dimensional" approach with evident mod...

A carefully crafted copy of one of Hubert Harmon's Mexican designs, this fabulous sterling silver and amethyst belt buckle is anonymous yet, as quite often is the case, the lack of a signature does not affect the piece's quality and beauty. Based on the workmanship I suspect this may be a Casa Maya example. Casa Maya issued many of Harmon's designs in brass primarily yet they did make them in sterling as well and quite often pieces in their parures went out in the marked without full hallmarks. ...

Owned and operated by the Scarpelli family in Florence, Italy, "Le Pietre nell' Arte" gallery specializes in the art of "pietra dura" jewelry and larger works of art. Accompanied by its original box, the combination pin / pendant at hand, its vermeil finish still glistening as if it came out of the shop just yesterday, is a small treasure made by one of the family's maestros. Seamlessly inlaid in a black (onyx?) background hard-stones in blood red, crocus yellow, various shades of green and whit...

Based on an Antonio Pineda design this Mexican modernist silver necklace by Cheo I would go as far as to describe as "industrial"! The oblong sterling links and the concave oval connectors are characterized by strong geometry and have an intense "utilitarian" vibe about them. And the opaque green "onyx" glass bars they encompass mirror that "no fuss" attitude. Cheo is one of those workshops we don't know much about but I have seen their work several times over the years. Their jewelry is often b...

The early hallmarks on this brooch date 1940-1945. This pin was designed by Valentin Vidaurreta. Shown with onyx stones on p.79, II-12 in "Silver Masters of Mexico", also noted in this book is that Vidaurreta produced work both in his own workshop and at the Taller Borda, and that the pieces sold at Taller Borda were marked with the HA mark until the 1950's. This is an outstanding piece, large, exquisitely hand-crafted, and collector quality. Four tulips with amethyst centers are gently c...

Part of an assembled demi parure the bracelet of which I will be presenting in the next couple of days, this sterling silver Danish necklace is one of Jensen’s classic designs. Elegance and impeccable craftsmanship defy the whims of time and fashion and here we have a piece of jewelry that falls under that magical category. These earlier creations of Jensen’s retain the soft, silky sculpturality of Danish Skønvirke work and the patina the silver develops over time only enhances that quality...

Spratling was known to have a large collection of Pre-Columbian Mayan & Olmec objects. He designed this necklace using hand wrought sterling silver beads, coral beads & hand carved obsidian Olmec figures most likely acquired from locals in the surrounding areas of Taxco, Mexico. The wearable length of the necklace is 16 inches and weighs 32 grams. Each carved image is unique and about 1/2" high. The necklace is in excellent condition. Clasp is tight & secure. A similar Spratling necklace with Pr...

Crafted in the late 1950s or in the 1960s, this sterling silver Mexican necklace is signed by Victoria or Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti. Victoria is one of the few female designers and silversmiths of Taxco’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance that we know of and she is credited, among others, for perfecting the “metales casados” or “married metals” technique. In this necklace, however, she adds a modernist twist to an otherwise “archeological” design. I cannot exactly pinpoint what it is th...