One of the best lapidaries in Taxco’s jewelry history, Felipe Martinez created amazing jewelry in many styles. The classy sterling silver and azur-malachite earrings at hand follow the “mozaico Azteca” line that was introduced by the Los Castillo workshop. Rich, dark blues, understated safe and a breath-taking splash of electric green come together in the stone inlay held securely in the most minimal “gypsy” setting...

Sold through Plateria Cortes this Taxco mid-century silver and stone necklace is signed by Enrique Ledesma and indeed considered a classic example of the Mexican modernist. Ledesma excelled in the marriage of sterling and semi-precious or hard stones is sleek, minimalist designs so his jewelry has a timeless appeal and is very much relevant today as it was when it first saw the day of light...

Beautiful dimensional vintage pendant with a pale chartreuse adamite crystal stone, on a goldtone neckring. Circa 1960. The pendant is made of metal with a crackled gold finish, and is signed with a signature which I am not able to identify. A very distinctive modernist piece which is totally on trend. Crystal, agate, and geode stones in natural forms are being featured in many current jewelry collections this year.

The pendant is 2 1/2 inches long by 1 3/4 inches wide and 1 inch deep...

An extraordinary modernist fringe necklace in 18K yellow gold and green tourmaline by the famed Brazilian modernist jeweler Haroldo Burle Marx. Burle Marx invented the technique of carving and tumbling forma livre ("free form") gemstones in 1948, and the technique became his signature. Most often, he used colorful stones native to Brazil—tourmalines, amethysts, aquamarines, citrines, etc...

Circa mid-century, this bracelet is the work of Felipe Martinez / Piedra Y Plata. Martinez, who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, opened his shop "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. Before opening his shop Martinez had been an expert sculptor. Features six dense green stones and a superb modernist design, Martinez was known for selecting spectacular stones, and this bracelet does not disappoint. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 3/8", with a width of 11/16"...

A retail shop in Taxco, according to Bille Hougart, Plateria Cortes is a name also found on some of Enrique Ledesma pieces, most probably because they were sold there. So my first thought when I saw this set of vintage Mexican silver surrealist earrings was that they might have been made by Ledesma. And then it all came back to me - a couple of years ago, I sold three sets of earrings in the same exact style (and actually even a pair like the one at hand) clearly signed for Sigi Pineda...

Fleshy, slick and so mod this set of vintage Mexican Antonio Pineda earrings is wrought in his favorite fine (.970) silver alloy in the form of heart-shaped leaves. Antonio's jewelry, no matter how many elements combined in a design, if unfailingly sculptural and shamelessly tactile. It is very difficult to restrain oneself and not keep passing one's fingers over the masterfully worked, perfectly finished silver...

Stern and solemn, a gorgeous example of classic Mexican Deco lapidary work, the chrysoprase “mask” centering the silver pendant at hand looks dignified and at ease, completely unaffected by the weight of its ornate headdress. The hefty, entirely hand-wrought chain that accompanies it is, I believe, original to the necklace and perfectly reflects the pendant’s heaviness...

One of Taxco's foremost modernists, Enrique Ledesma was also an accomplished lapidary and his slick, mid-century jewelry often feature a seamless marriage of silver with semi-precious and other stones. In the bracelet presented here, the green inlay is ridged and discreetly held in its sterling setting creating a row of elongated shield-shaped links that moves smoothly and easily conforms to the wrist...

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...

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...

This mid-century pin is the work of Los Castillo. It's a striking modernist design which is composed of two pieces connected with a rivet. The bottom hands and body swings freely with movement. Hand-wrought with intricate detail.

Measures 2 3/4" x 1 3/8".

Weight is 17.3 grams.

Signed and hallmarked "Los Castillo Taxco", with the eagle assay 15 and the design # 136.

In excellent vintage condition. Pin closes with a rolling C clasp.

A wonderful 18K yellow gold cocktail ring featuring a "forma livre" (free-form) green tourmaline by the famed mid-century Brazilian designer Haroldo Burle Marx. Burle Marx invented the technique of carving and tumbling forma livre stones in 1948, and the style became his signature. The tourmaline has a deep green color with just a tiny hint of blue undertones, and is set in a florentined finished typical of Burle Marx's work...

Rings by Victoria of Taxco, one of the few ladies of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance that are known to us, are such rare finds, they actually touch upon the impossible. If one is really lucky, one might find a shadowbox example from her "angel" parure but I have never before seen a "mask" ring with her signature...

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...

Circa mid-century, this is a gorgeous sleek modernist bracelet from Antonio Pineda.

Composed of ten thick circle links, this is a truly remarkable piece. It feels as good on the wrist as it looks, heavy and luxurious, fluid and flexible. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box. Safety chain is original to the piece.

Measures a closed, wearable length of 7 1/4", with a width of 3/4". Thickness/depth is just over 1/4.

Weight is 94.8 grams.

Signe...

A classic pair of 18K yellow gold and sapphire cufflinks by Van Cleef & Arpels. The square faces are worked in a herringbone motif surrounding sugarloaf cabochons of blue sapphire. The smaller faces are hinged for ease in putting through a cuff. The sapphires have eye-clean clarity and are graded as medium dark, strong violetish-blue (vB6/5). The cufflinks are signed “Van Cleef & Arpels” and are stamped with French gold hallmarks, the master goldsmith’s mark registered to Georges Lenfa...

This mid-century Antonio Pineda necklace is a book-piece design, shown with amethysts on p.119 of Silver Seduction. With a wearable length of 16", this is a sleek modernist piece which lays beautifully on the neck. Looks and feels luxurious, with a weight of 152 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, eagle assay 2, Mexico 925 AMC. In excellent vintage condition. Width in front is 1 1/2".