A striking sterling cuff bracelet with an amazing textured design by Navajo Harvey Begay (1938- 2009). He is the son of noted silversmith Kenneth Begay. When a teenager, he worked alongside his father at the White Hogan Shop in Scottsdale, AZ. He opened his own shop in Steamboat Springs, CO. which he operated with his wife from 1972- 79. This cuff measures 6" around in the inside plus an additional 3/4" opening, so for a small wrist...

An elegant pair of Art Nouveau cufflinks worked in 14K yellow gold and set with round blue sapphires. The oval faces are pierced, decorated with a modified acanthus leaf motif and finished with a soft bloomed texture. The sapphires have nice coloring...

A wonderful Victorian hinged bangle bracelet worked in 14K yellow gold and featuring a design of crescent moons and stars. In Victorian jewelry, crescent moons were used to evoke the goddess Selene (Roman “Luna”) as a representation of feminine power while stars represented wisdom and divine guidance...

An elegant solid bangle bracelet worked in 14K yellow gold. The bangle has pierced foliate motif, and is set with sapphires and diamonds. Three round sapphires interspersed with four single-cut diamonds are set in platinum at the front of the bangle, and three additional sapphire stations are at the back. The stones have vibrant pure blue coloring and are unheated, likely from Ceylon. Tested and guaranteed 14K.

• Origin: America, ca...

A very fine lapis plaque (Afghan quality) with beautiful even violetish-blue color set in a 14K gold mounting. The stone is held in place by gold scrolls reminiscent of cresting waves. The same design follows down the side of the shank. Afghan lapis has no eye-visible white calcite spots, but may have some sparkly pyrite, and is the highest quality level. The interior of the shank is stamped “14K China” and has an unknown maker’s mark...

A classic Venetian Etruscan 18K gold charm set with round amethysts. The gold surfaces are ornately worked with rosettes, beaded and rope-twist decoration. The amethysts have nice medium-light violet color that contrasts beautifully with the surrounded gold. Charms of this type are usually extremely large, but this example is in a rare smaller size that’s easier to wear on a bracelet or as a pendant. Tested and guaranteed 18K.

• Origin: Italy, ca...

Beautiful vintage sterling handmade cuff bracelet signed H&H. The design and execution reflect the talent of a master jeweler but I have been unable to identify the hallmark. The bracelet measures 5 3/8" around in the inside plus an additional 1 1/4" opening. It is 1 1/4" wide and weighs 76 grams. Signed H&H Handmade Sterling. Fine original condition. A mystery piece that is exquisite.

Circa 1940's, here is a huge conical amethyst ring from Hubert Harmon. An absolutely spectacular ring, one which instantly commands attention. It's a published book-piece, shown on page 190 of "Silver Masters of Mexico". The amethyst rises to almost 7/8" above the finger, and is surrounded by silver beading. The ring is adjustable, currently at a size 8. Weight is 23.2 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Hubert Harmon Sterling Mexico". Collector quality.

A rare sterling overscale hinged six panel bracelet in an overlapping petal motif by Danish Modernist Bent Knudsen. Each heavy gauge silver petal has a slightly concave design, is hinged and has a smooth edge. The clasp is an ingenious screw bolt. It measures 7 " end to end, is 2" wide and weighs a very substantial 138 grams. The scale and weight set this bracelet apart from all others of similar design. Fine original condition and signed and numbered as shown...

A great vintage sterling pin by Frank Patania Sr. designed for the Southeast Arizona Sports Car Club. It was originally a car hood or grill ornament that a previous owner had made into a pin. Measures 3” long and wide and weighs 36 grams. It is signed as shown. No need to be a member of this club to love the pin!!

Expertly crafted vintage sterling cuff bracelet from the Navajo Arts and Crafts Guild which was formed in 1941 under the auspices of the U.S. Government’s Indian Arts and Crafts Board and the Navajo Tribal authority to help young Navajo silversmiths learn from the masters in order to preserve the quality of classic Navajo silver work. This fine cuff has precise and intricate chiseling and wonderful unusual stamping...

Very rare and stunning vintage Georg Jensen Denmark sterling bracelet no. 181 designed by Ibe Dahlquist in the 60’s. The interlocking links are very sculptural and the clasp is invisible and ingenious. Measuring 7 1/2” end to end, it is 1” wide and weighs 58 grams. It is in fine original condition and signed as shown. This bracelet and its matching necklace are pictured on page 177 of Janet Drucker’s book GEORG JENSEN A TRADITION OF SPLENDID SILVER. Spectacular Modernist design.

Hallmarks date this Hector Aguilar Fertility necklace 1948-1962. Collector quality, this piece is superbly crafted and lays perfectly on the neck. Links are hand wrought, deeply carved, with oxidized recesses and a beautiful patina. Measures a closed, wearable length of 16 1/2". Signed and hallmarked ".940 HA Taxco Mexico", with the eagle assay 9. Weight is 70.8 grams. In excellent vintage condition.

Breathtakingly beautiful this vintage sterling silver cuff bracelet, Navajo or Southwestern based on the style, is one of those pieces that become heirlooms. Exceptionally well crafted, it is centered by a huge oval lace agate, the color of the stone showing at times powdery blue, at times light grey. Set in a fine saw-tooth bezel, the agate is surrounded by beading and beautiful, richly layered foliate and floral overlay...

This mid-century bracelet was produced by "RMM", and is based upon an Antonio Pineda design. I have the Antonio bracelet, with amethyst stones, listed in my shop. It's a fabulous hand-wrought modernist piece, with twelve rectangular aventurine bars which are angled on the ends...

Felipe Martinez opened his shop, "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. A former sculptor who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, Martinez was known for his work with beautiful stones which melded seamlessly into his silver designs. This bracelet features five chrysocolla stones with a trapezoidal shape alternating with concave silver panels. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box, with a safety chain. The stones are absolutely gorgeous, with various shades of green and copper. The silver is...

This mid-century Margot de Taxco brooch is likely one of a kind. The Victorian era high relief Greek goddess is hand-carved and exquisitely detailed. It's either hardstone or black lava, and Margot designed the silver setting expressly to fit the cameo, using a Greek motif with black enamel. Measures 2 3/8" x 2 3/16", with a weight of 35.8 grams. The Greek goddess is Eirene, and she is known as the goddess of peace and the season of spring. Signed and hallmarked "Margot de Taxco Made in Mexi...

Known for her bold modernist designs and her love for big, gem- and stone-studded bracelets Carmen Beckmann was equally creative when allowing the Spanish Colonial tradition to influence her work. That “old way” of doing things manifests itself here in the heart-shaped wire-work appliques that support the luscious tiger’s eye cabochon, bringing to mind the more delicate, ornate filigree jewelry every silversmith in the country knew how to make. Everything else, however, from the oversized ...

An American who arrived in Mexico in the 1940s, opened her own workshop in 1945 and by 1950 employed about twenty five artisans*, Doris is one of the few female designers that we know of in the world of vintage Mexican silver jewelry. My first encounter with her creations wasn’t until a few years into my “career” as a Mexican jewelry dealer and I was immediately captivated by the exquisite design, the impeccable craftsmanship and the quality of the materials used. I have seen kept my eyes...

This mid-century chili pepper bracelet is the work of Salvador Teran. Teran worked with William Spratling at Taller de Las Delicias before leaving with his cousins, the Castillo brothers, in 1939 to work with them at their new taller, "Los Castillo." Considered by many to be a genius at designing, Salvador worked at Los Castillo for many years before establishing his own taller "La India Bonita" in 1952. This is a stunning modernist piece, with two chili peppers front and center, and a bird cage...

Confident in his prowess as a warrior and comfortable in his ceremonial attire this Margot de Taxco silver and enamel Aztec figure can be enjoyed both as a brooch as well as a pendant. Though experimentation with the art of enameling started while Margot was still part of the Los Castillo workshop, it was after her divorce with Antonio that she focused on perfecting it in her own, independent taller. And perfect it she did. So much so that today, when one thinks of Mexican enamel jewelry, one un...

This Fred Davis ring was produced in the 1930's to early 1940's. It features a large hand-cut and polished amethyst cabochon, and is a generous size 7. The face of the ring is 13/16", with a depth of 3/8". The stone itself is gorgeous, with natural inclusions and quartz marbling. Weight is 9.8grams. Signed and hallmarked with the conjoined FD and Made in Mexico Silver. In excellent vintage condition.

Circa 1949-1953, this bracelet bears the "Jewels by Antonio" hallmark - one which is not often seen. It's an elegant and exquisite bracelet, with eight panels, each with a gorgeous round moonstone. I believe the silver to be a very high purity. I have not seen this exact design before. The push button tongue box clasp is topped with a moonstone, creating a seamless appearance when closed. This is a bracelet which both looks and feels amazing on. It's silky smooth, with a very luxurious feel. ...

Bigger in size than the most frequently encountered version of the specific design and executing a different step, this vintage Margot de Taxco “ballerina” brooch is Mexico’s contribution to the ballet craze started by Van Cleef et Arpels in the 1940s, with the issuance of their gem-studded “ballerina” jewelry. And even though we don’t have sparkling diamonds and fine gold here, the sense of harmony and serenity our long-, slender-armed dancer seems to exude is equally precious and h...

This mid-century bracelet by Antonio Pineda is unique and unusual. And a real stunner. It reminds me of a tiara, or a crown. Tipped with nine pearls, executed in 970 silver, it's a heavy and substantial hand-wrought showpiece. Hinged at both sides to open wide and easily fit over the wrist, closure is a tight and secure tongue in box. Collector quality. Closed, wearable length is 6 3/4". Width in front is 1". Weight is 108.8 grams. Signed and hallmarked with the Antonio Taxco crown, ...

I love vintage Portuguese silver bracelets, the repousse hinged bangles more specifically, for which makers like Topazio and Safir are well known. They come in all sizes and designs, they are ideal for bracelet stacks but can be just as easily enjoyed worn alone. The example at hand is floral, with sculptural roses and dahlias in full bloom and in bud running its perimeter, rendered more dramatic by the patina time has bestowed upon them. The bracelet has an 7” inner circumference (clasped) an...

Circa 1930's to early 1940's, this is a spectacular early Mexican necklace. Hand-wrought repoussé featuring two koi fish with bubbles coming out of their mouths and large amethyst cabochons. Highly detailed with oxidized recesses, this is a gorgeous necklace. The side links are of waves. A very rare necklace. Measures a closed, wearable length of 18". Weight is 75.1 grams. Hallmarked "Mexico Silver". In excellent vintage condition.

Exquisite Matl Salas Mexican silver, coral and turquoise brooch, I believe this piece to have been made in the years following Matilde Poulat’s death in 1960 based on the quality of the materials used and the high level of craftsmanship. Maestro Salas, Matl’s nephew, worked alongside his aunt for most of Matilde’s career and upon her demise, he (and later his family) took over the workshop and continued making jewelry based on Poulat’s designs. Steeped in Mexico’s folk tradition, the b...

Less-is-more would be the term I would use to describe this Carmen Beckmann modernist ring if it weren’t for that stone! Molten caramel golds fill the tiger’s eye slab almost in an ombre arrangement so that the ring changes the way it looks as the light that hits it changes. A true chameleon with a strong, “masculine” (am I even allowed the term any more?) setting, all angles and straight lines and a veritable show-stopper by one of the few female contributors to Mexico’s 20th c Silver...

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...

A lovely Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold honeymoon pin in the form of a crescent moon decorated with blue and white enamel forget-me-nots surrounding an enameled pansy set with a .025-ct round brilliant diamond. The pansy is the more uncommon type where the petals have elegantly-chased decoration. In Victorian flower language, both the pansy and the forget-me-not symbolized “think of me.” When flowers and crescents were used together, the symbolism was “honeymoon,” and these were popular gif...

In my last treasure-hunting adventure I ended up with a couple of really really nice cross pendants and necklaces. The first one to gain center stage is this two-sided Flli Coppini Italian silver example. Executed in the .800 alloy that was the Italian standard until 1934, the pendant is crisply cast and its profusion of detail and ornamentation is easily readable to the eye. A generously-sized piece, it is shown in one of the photos here with a Peruzzi / Coppini style silver chain so you can ge...

Felipe Martinez opened his shop, "Piedra Y Plata" in 1950. A former sculptor who had worked with Hubert Harmon in the 1940's, Martinez was known for his work with beautiful stones which melded seamlessly into his silver designs. This necklace features chrysocolla stones with a trapezoidal shape which alternate with concave silver panels in front. Stones and silver panels graduate in size, with the upper sides of the necklace all silver. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box, with a safet...

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. Necklace measures a closed, wearable length of 18". Weight is 78 grams....

Dating in the first decades of the 20th c. this Italian Renaissance Revival necklace is wrought in .800 silver and adorned with flat-cut and cabochon sodalite. In the same style as “Grand Tour” jewelry popularized by the Peruzzi and Coppini houses in Florence, this piece features grape clusters and leaves while also showcasing shell, floral garland and rosette links in its ornate chain. Good casting and beautiful patina render the design three-dimensional and I do love the unexpected brown s...

Signed by a listed “middle period” Taxco maestro primarily known for his repousse work, this 1950s carved azur-malachite and sterling “mask” pendant necklace is as stunning as it is unexpected. Dark blues, deep greens and earthy browns add depth and gravity to the stone, making the ancient figure’s features as stern in sleep as they must have been in that life lived centuries ago. The “mask” is big and bold and I love the generous prongs holding it in place at the top like bent ant...