This is an early Antonio Pineda necklace that I have seen only in obsidian. Everyone over uses the word rare but ...this is very, very rare.. The stones are better than most amethysts seen and the dangles drop from the center is 1.75in.long. The weight is 106.5 grams. With a wearable of 16.5in. it will fit most. The early mark of SILVER BY TONO always shows me a warmer side of Pineda's work and is my personal favorite. There is no damage of any kind as it has been well cared for...

A glorious emulation of Spratling's "Aztec Sun" design, the early Mexican Deco silver and amethyst cuff at hand combines repoussage and overlay with cleverly applied oxidation that adds more depth and drama to an already stunning bracelet. This is a generously proportioned piece so if you always craved a cuff like it but couldn't find one to fit, don't miss this opportunity...

Maestro Velazquez is one of my favorite early Mexican silversmiths. Based on the hallmarks on his work, he was most probably based in Mexico City and his creations are almost always in the so-called Mexico City style of repousse. Very well made and carefully finished, this figural fish brooch is also characterized by a fun, cartoon-ish air that will put a smile on your face every day of the year...

This early Mexican bracelet, 1930's - early 1940's, is a spectacular hand-wrought work of art from noted silversmith P. Ochoa.

P. Ochoa work is very seldom seen, and closely mirrors that of Matilde Poulat/Matl and M. Velazquez. This bracelet is collector quality.

There are five repoussé panels which make up this bracelet. The center link has a large oval onyx cabochons as the face...

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...

Perfect for the black turtlenecks and heavy coats of winter this vintage Mexican Deco silver and turquoise bird of paradise brooch is a stupendous work of art! Not only does its sheer size stun the eye, its layered sculpturality and curvaceous repoussage invites the touch and allows the light to play a thousand tricks hiding in its recesses and reflecting off its elevations...

Superbly crafted, profusely decorated and visually powerful this early Mexico City repousse figural brooch is an a rather rare example of vermeil silver jewelry from the country's 20th c. Silver Renaissance. I will admit that I am not particularly fond of vermeil - I love the look and feel of aged silver without "enhancements" that make it look like something it is actually not. Yet there are those very very scarce moments when a piece like this shows up and it makes me reconsider...

Too cute! This vintage pair of sterling silver toggle back chain link cufflinks feature transfer printed Westie dogs on a black ground, framed in silver. Marked 925, Mid Century. Measures 3/4 in diameter, 3/4 in chain. Excellent condition (shadows cast on face from lighting).

Usually referred to as irreverent and whimsical Hubert Harmon was a native of Illinois yet studied at the Parson's School of Design in Paris. In the 1940s, he and his wife Louise settled for a few years in Mexico where Hubert opened a workshop in Taxco and created some of the most interesting designs in the world of vintage Mexican silver jewelry. A lover of parties, poodles and all creatures winged and mythical, he seems to have found inspiration in the country's folk art as well...

I always preface Jose Luis Flores's jewelry by saying that, in my opinion, he was one of the most talented Taxco maestros during the town's heyday. His creations are usually modernist re-interpretations of ancient Meso-american motifs, always dynamic and quite often magnificently layered...

Hand wrought in thick silver & weighing 95 grams this cuff was designed by Spratling in the 1940's. The bracelet stands 1 1/2" high and will comfortably fit up to a 6 3/4" wrist. Inside diameter is 2 1/2". The back opening is 1 1/4" wide. The bracelet is in beautiful condition with a nicely aged patina. Hallmarked on the reverse. The design is pictured on p. 37 of MEXICAN SILVER by Penny Morrill & Carole Berk. Also pictured on Phyllis Goddards' spratlingsilver.com.

This is an early piece by Matilde Poulat, with hallmarks dating 1930's - 40's. Collector quality, with turquoise cabochons and branch coral. Absolutely gorgeous, measures 7" long without the tongue portion of the clasp, 1 1/2" wide. Weight is 67.3 grams. Signed and hallmarked as shown. Stones are all original. In excellent vintage condition.

Pre-eagle, circa 1930's-early 1940's, this necklace is a gorgeous statement piece.

It's entirely hand-wrought, with a center medallion measuring 4" wide. It's studded with tiny silver beading, and the oxidized background provides great depth and dimension.

Closed, wearable length is 15 3/4""...

Beautiful earrings in classic MATL style. By Matilde Poulat of Mexico City. Circa 1950. Marked MATL in script, 925, and MEXICO, and both earrings are marked with eagle 129, which is the correct number. The screwbacks, which are original, are marked ALPACA, which is of course a white metal alloy...

A fine Art Deco sterling silver pendant necklace by famed illustrator and jewelry designer McClelland Barclay. The square pendant shows a water lily and lily pad along with several buds in a stylized form. The pendant is suspended from its original silver chain. The reverse is marked "Sterling Silver" and is signed "McClelland Barclay".

Barclay was a noted illustrator, famous for his pin-up style advertisements for General Motors and for Hollywood movies. At the onset of World War II, he v...

Maestro Nestor is one of Taxco’s well-kept little secrets. He is not widely known - only the very dedicated vintage Mexican silver jewelry collectors are aware of his work - and his pieces can vary in style and inspiration. Yet when he is at his best, he can be truly spectacular. I believe the necklace at hand is expresses one of those creative moments. Lovingly hand-cut and deeply chased sterling silver surrounds a big faceted amethyst set in a substantial crown setting while the delicate fol...

$650.00 Circa 1944-1946, this iconic pin by William Spratling features a butterfly or moth with bronze markings on sterling silver - likely 980 silver. This piece has a two pronged clip fastener. From his first design period. This design, in a different size, (there were four sizes made) graces the cover of "Mexican Silver". Measures 2 5/8" x 1 5/8". Signed and hallmarked with the WS Print Circle (Spratling Made in Mexico), Spratling Silver, and the eagle assay 1. You rarely see the eag...

Beautiful vintage 14K yellow gold marquis shaped ring with tiny persian turquoise beads. Hallmarked 14K. Size 7.5, can be sized. Weight is 6 grams

This wonderful 1940's, Mexican necklace consists of decorative, linked hearts that meet to form a pendant of 3 hearts with a central cone-shaped ornament. The hearts have a lovely, foliate, stamped, raised design complimented by a small, bezel set, turquoise cabochon (in different shades of blue and green). The necklace is 20” long. Each heart measures 5/8” x 5/8” (at its longest and widest). The central pendant, marked “MEXICO SILVER” on the back, measures 2” x 1 3/8”. This p...

One of my favorite “less celebrated” early Mexican maestros, AEM (or AE Heart as he is also referred to because of the way he signs his work) had his workshop in Mexico City and he created some really nice pieces. It has been a long time since I presented something by him but this set of “mesh and bead” dangle earrings more than compensates for the gap. This type of “mesh” or “chainmail” designs is an area where AEM excelled and I am very happy for having come upon these earrings...

This is an elegant vintage five piece gray mother-of-pearl and silver bezel pair of cuff links & stud set in original box, circa 1940-1950, This dress set includes circular cufflinks and three shirt studs, the abalone set in silver decorated bezels, the backs are gold toned, unmarked, blue lined case marked The B R Baker Co. Toledo, Cleveland; Measurements: Cuff links- 1/2 in diameter, Studs-1/4 in dia. approx. Condition is excellent.

Maestro Damaso Gallegos was for years associated in my mind with the Mexican Deco "Christmas jewelry” tradition. His “holly and bells” as well as “bow and bells” designs are a classic way to celebrate the coming of the holiday season yet in the last couple of years I keep stumbling upon totally unexpected pieces by him. The massive, early Taxco combination pin / pendant with the carved stone “mask” at hand is crafted in high purity, .980 silver with overlay, beading and oxidation. ...

Glistening caramel golds and molten browns dominate in this Cecilia Tono Mexican modernist bang ring. This is one of my favorite Taxco collaborations - the jewelry that came out of it slick and inventive with the highest quality of craftsmanship and the best of materials. There is nothing excessive about this ring - except maybe the heftiness of its oxidized setting - yet it immediately attracts the eye and holds the gaze captive with its liquid warmth and its generous width. The ring is a comfo...

A handsome pair of 14K yellow gold cufflinks and three shirt studs fashioned as buttons. The buttons are nicely detailed, complete with gold “stitches.” The cufflinks are signed “Tiffany & Co.”, the studs are signed “T & Co.”, and each piece has Larter’s 14K manufacturer’s mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Size: cufflinks, 9/16” diameter; studs, 5/16” diameter. Weight: 14.3 grams.

A rare World War II era 14K yellow gold tie bar in the form of an airplane propeller. This motif would have been considered a patriotic statement in gentleman’s jewelry at the time. The back is marked “14K” and has the hallmark for Richardson Manufacturing Company, a Newark jeweler.

Origin: America, ca. 1940. Condition: excellent. Size: 2-9/16” x 7/16”. Weight: 6.4 grams.

NOTE: We are also offering a matching pair of cufflinks.

Two different sizes of sterling silver barrel beads adorned with a myriad of hand-made florets in the Etruscan style make up this generously long Mexican lariat necklace from the pre-1948 period. I am very partial to long necklaces and lariats are a small obsession of mine. When I am lucky enough to come upon an Etruscan example as the one presented here, my heart skips a beat. Just like the one I offered last summer, this lariat was also made in Cuernavaca, one of Mexico's main silver-smithing ...

This sculpturally stunning cuff was designed by Spratling during the rare(1949-51) period when he signed his work SPRATLING De MEXICO STERLING. Spratling marries rich, carved azur malachite and heavy sterling silver to beautiful effect. Weighing 85 grams the cuff stands 2" high at the front tapering to 1" at back. The interior length is 5 3/4" plus 1 1/4" opening. The piece is in beautiful condition. This design is included in LACMA's Latin American & Mexican silver collection and on their websi...

I have had full-sized Mexican silver and stone "idol" pendant necklace before but none like this exquisite example I am presenting here. Beautifully carved and visually imposing, the pendant's onyx Aztec / Maya male figure is shown in what I believe might be a supplication position. Cross-hatched bracelets carved into the stone hug his wrists while a silver necklace and an impressive headdress are the only other adornments covering his naked body. Suspended on an entirely hand-wrought sterling c...

Sterling silver square pressed powder compact with mirror. Engraved lines on front outside of compact with engraved hearts in each corner, back is plain, no initials. Stamped "Elgin American Made in USA Sterling" on powder lid inside. Mirror has some age marks on the edges. Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inch square Weight: 180.8 grams (116.3 dwt)

Circa 1930's-1940's, this is a spectacular hand-wrought pectoral necklace. Hallmarked simply "Sterling 925", I do believe it to be Mexican in origin. The style and manner are very much in keeping with the work of Geraldo Lopez, Los Castillo, and Alfredo Villasana. This stunning necklace lays perfectly upon the neck. The center portion measures 6" wide, 4" tall. Closed, wearable length is 16". Closure is a "J" hook. Weight is 86.9 grams. In excellent vintage condition. One of the s...

In the years I have been buying and selling vintage Mexican silver jewelry I have seen many "mask" pieces - this is, after all, one of the "pillars" in the genre's design index and I am also very partial to it and always on the look out for good examples. I have to also admit that seeing jewelry of a certain kind over and over again makes one a little more blasé and hence, more difficult to impress. Yet impressed I was with this astounding combination pin / pendant I am presenting here. Monumen...

One of my favorite "less celebrated" maestros whose jewelry, however, has been experiencing a constant rise in appreciation among collectors, A. Tobias was a contemporary of Matilde Poulat's and I believe he was probably also working in Mexico City. His creations caught my attention several years ago for their characteristic "Mexico City style" repoussage and their beautiful craftsmanship. I have since come to find out that he also designed some amazing "mask" brooches and tried his hand at impr...

These amethyst earrings have no hallmarks. They were converted to posts, and whatever marks were present are now gone. The design is one which I've only seen from Matilde Poulat. Amethysts are gorgeous, perfectly matched in color with natural inclusions. Each earring measures 1 1/16" x 7/8". Weight is 21.1 grams. No dings, dents, dimples. Amethyst are free of any cracks or chips.

This striking sterling silver & azurite or chrysocolla "North Star" necklace was designed & signed circa 1949 by American and Taxco, Mexico artist William Spratling (1900-67). The pendant measures 2 1/4" X 2 1/4". The elongated link chain measures 16 1/2". Weight 60 grams. Beautiful condition & patina. Signed on reverse WS 925. Each of the four points of the pendant are planed creating dimension. This design is pictured on p. 63 of MEXICAN SILVER by Penny Morrill and Carole Berk. Also pictured o...

This 1940's Los Castillo necklace is a magnificent showpiece. Likely designed by Margot van Voorhies Carr / Margot de Taxco, It's composed of twenty one double leaf panels which are connected by rivets, creating a necklace which lays perfectly on the neck. Quite substantial, weighing 176.8 grams. Measures a closed, wearable length of 15 1/2", with a width of 1". Signed and hallmarked with the early linear marks "Los Castillo Taxco Sterling Mexico", and the design # 124. In excellent vintage...

This elegant work of art is a 1940's Spratling design. The ring stands a bit over 1" high. The ring size is about 7 1/2. It is in beautiful condition with some surface wear. Hallmarked SPRATLING SILVER MADE IN MEXICO.