Impressive takes on a whole different meaning when the work of the Los Castillo taller is concerned - and the wide, exuberantly vibrant floral and foliate repousse bracelet I am presenting here proves the point. Continuing in the 1940s’ spirit that called for designs derived from nature in jewelry production, this piece is a celebration of everything verdant - organic in an unexpected way, full of movement, reaching for the sunlight, twisting and twirling with the wind...

This is an absolutely gorgeous necklace created by Nestor. The elaborate centerpiece measures 2 15/16" wide and features a huge lab created purple stone in a four pronged setting. Necklace measures a closed, wearable length of 17", and it lays perfectly on the neck. Signed and hallmarked "Nestor Hecho en Taxco 925 Sterling" with an eagle assay. Weight is 48.5 grams. In excellent vintage condition.

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...

Circa mid-century, here is one of Margot's early and most beloved designs. Hand-wrought with world class repoussé silver work, it's crazy killer gorgeous. Will not fail to be noticed. Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 3/4", with a width of 1 7/16". Weight is 79.6 grams. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box, with original safety chain. In excellent vintage condition.

One of my absolute favorite designs by Gerardo Lopez, this silver and copper "mask" necklace I have sold a few times during my career as a vintage Mexican jewelry dealer and I never tire of it! There is so much to attract the eye here and every time you look at it, you spot something new and exciting. Meticulously cut ornate sterling "frames", oxidized and embellished with overlay, surround the highly sculptural copper "masks"...

Classic and classy this fab Los Castillo necklace will astonish you with the way it feels and looks once you have it on. An iconic Taxco piece with its cascading festoon links and its playful teardrop repousse dangles the design draws from Mexico's long Spanish Colonial tradition. Much heavier than the unsigned imitations that surface from time to time, it wears like a dream and has a very strong visual effect...

One of the Mexican designs inspired by Far Eastern cultures, the koi fish are a signature creation of Margot de Taxco and the Los Castillo yet its popularity prompted many of their "less celebrated" or anonymous contemporary maestros to come up with their own versions of it. And thankfully so because one can now find a beautiful example by a talented maker without having to break the bank - or at least not in a truly dramatic way! The all-silver necklace at hand is just such a welcome find...

Made up of heavily “pitted” and oxidized beads, tubular links and a central medallion with asymmetrical dangles this Erika Hult de Corral Mexican silver necklace is an ode to modernism peppered with a touch of brutalism. Ric (as de Corral signs her pieces) has created a few versions of this particular design that I like to refer to as “moonscapes” and they are all a pleasure to wear and to behold. One of the few talented female contributors to Mexico’s 20th c...

A truly fabulous mid century modern cuff bracelet, multi metal, with copper base, enhanced with brass or bronze and silver elements, textured sections and incised lines. One of the best imaginable designs from the era of innovative and wonderful metal work. It measures 5 1/8" on the interior, with a gap of 1 1/2" and is 1 3/8" wide...

A nice Georgian locket in the form of a Maltese cross with a central rock crystal locket compartment. The arms of the cross are made from faceted carnelian plaques mounted in gold around the central compartment. The compartment was intended to hold the woven hair or perhaps a miniature portrait of a loved one. The Cross of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John was created in 1126 based on designs from the Crusades...

A wonderfully detailed 14K yellow gold brooch depicting a spaniel. The shape of the dog’s head and the amount of fur suggests that the pin represents a Springer or English Cocker spaniel. The pin has substantial weight. The clasp is marked “14K.”

• Origin: America, circa 1935.
• Dimensions: 1 3/32” x 3/4”.
• Weight: 6.9 grams.
• Condition: excellent; sharp detail.

A fine green-toned cat's eye chrysoberyl cabochon surrounded by delicate scalloped border set with seed pearls centers this Victorian stickpin conversion ring. The stone displays excellent chatoyancy, with a clear milky white streak down the center of the stone that seems to "wink" as it is rocked from side to side. The surrounding pearls pick up the creamy color of the eye...

This pre-1948 bracelet produced by Frederick Walter Davis features nine amethyst cabochons set in repoussé silver panels with a sunrise design.

It's a beautiful piece, with oxidized recesses and amethyst gemstones which are perfectly matched in color.

Born in the U.S. in 1880, Davis moved to Mexico in 1910 and began designing and selling jewelry. Often, he designed jewelry and contracted with master artisans to produce these designs...

Circa mid-century, this modernist Mexican bib necklace is the work of "MGI". It's an Antonio Pineda design, and this piece matches the quality and construction perfectly. This necklace has seventeen polished onyx crescents, and it certainly makes a statement. A very substantial piece, weighing 131.3 grams. Very difficult to accurately measure the closed, wearable length, but I would say about 15"...

Slick, a modernist dream-come-true, crafted with the highest quality of craftsmanship and studded with the most beautiful tiger's eye you have ever seen, this slick Mexican silver necklace was made in Taxco in the 1950s-60s...

A lovely 14K yellow gold flower pin enameled in elegant shades of lilac and cream by Bippart, Griscom & Osborn. The five petals are nicely undulating around a central pearl, and a gold stem peaks out at the bottom. The back is stamped with Bippart's 14K gold mark.

Origin: America, ca. 1910. Condition: good; a few expert touch-ups along the edges. Dimensions: 1" x 1". Weight: 7.5 gr.

Circa 1941-1950, this extremely rare Antonio Pineda pin is a book-piece shown on p. 89 of Silver Seduction: The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda.

Measuring 3 1/8" tall, this pin has stunning detail and is exquisitely crafted. The center fuchsia flower dangles freely...

A handsome mid-Victorian Scottish agate pendant featuring pear-shaped cabochons of bloodstone ("heliotrope") and carnelian in a fine gold setting. The gold surfaces are heavily decorated with fiolate engraving...

An elegant very early Edwardian 14K yellow gold ring of navette shape set with an interesting spotted or moss agate cabochon. The agate's body color is a translucent goldish-gray color with darker markings that resemble a tiger's stripes. The gold setting is delicately enhanced with bright-cut engraving. The very long navette shape is very flattering to the finger. The interior of the shank is stamped "14K".

Origin: America, ca. 1900. Condition: excellent. Ring Size: 8. Dimensions: crow...

Circa mid-century, this bracelet was produced by Los Castillo. It's a hand-wrought piece with a large presence, composed of four curved sections. There are three pendant/dangles/pendulums attached to the center section, and each panel is separated by three spiral circles with oxidized recesses. Closure is a tight and secure tongue in box. Measures a closed, wearable length of about 6 1/4". Width where the the pendants fall is 2". Weighs 75.2 grams. Signed and hallmarked "Los Castillo...

Gorgeous sterling silver repousse links with an openwork design come together to create a beautiful bracelet by the famous Margot de Taxco. A large bracelet it measures 7 1/2" long by 1 1/2" wide and weighs a heavy 65.7 grams. Hallmarked Margot de Taxco, Sterling Made in Mexico, 5513A and the eagle 16. Nice patina, secure box clasp and attached safety chain. A lovely Margot bracelet.

This classic bracelet by the famous Taxco silver artist William Spratling is an early design crafted in a beautiful combination of Sterling Silver and Copper. It measures 7 1/2" long by 1" wide and it weighs a heavy 74.2 grams. Hallmarked Spratling Silver, Made in Mexico a mark used in 1942. It has a fold over clasp and is in good condition with a few minor dings mostly along the bracelet edge. It has not been polished and retains a lovely rich patina. We are offering this bracelet 'AS-IS' and ...

Circa mid-century, here is an iconic book-piece design from Margot van Voorhies Carr, who shop and work is known as Margot de Taxco.

Margot's design # 5554 is an exquisite and intricately detailed hand wrought serpent bracelet. Melange enamel sits within tiny scales in the segmented articulated links. the snake head has black enamel eyes and a forked tongue sticks out from his open mouth.

Measures a closed, wearable length of 6 5/8", with a width in front of 1 1/2" from the...

Fabulous stunning antique 19th century gunmetal or so-called Berlin iron long collet set crystal sautoir necklace. Mid to late 19th century, probably French. These necklaces were also originally used as muff chains, hanging the fur muff around the wearer's neck, where it would fall at about waist length. The watch style clasp and ring could also be used to hang items such as a lorgnette or a lady's watch. This piece is long enough to wear three times around the neck or wear as a longer sautoir. ...

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. The rendering borders on cubism yet at the same time, the pendant regis...

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...

A beautiful ring converted from an antique French stick pin. The ring features an 18K gold and platinum crown set with a bright royal blue sapphire surrounded by a sparkling halo of rose cut diamonds. The edge of the design is finished with delicate pierced gallery. The crown is attached to a 14K yellow gold band. The delicate style of this ring makes it perfect for wearing as a stacking ring or for a young lady's first gemstone ring.

Finger Size: 6-1/2 (can easily be sized). Dimensi...

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...

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...

Saturated blues and greens juxtaposed to the warm glow of well-aged silver soften the austere geometry of this Los Castillo modernist cuff bracelet. Out of the workshop’s “mozaico Azteca” line which celebrates the art of seamless inlay, the cuff is also showcasing the beauty of azur-malachite. There is nothing superfluous here - economy of design, honesty of materials and craftsmanship of the highest level combine in a visual power-house, a piece of mid-century wearable art. The cuff has a...

A beautiful ring converted from an antique French stick pin. The ring features an 18K gold and platinum crown set with natural pearls and sparkling rose cut diamonds around a bright royal blue sapphire. The sapphire has an almost velvety appearance. The gemstone crown is attached to a 14K yellow gold band. The delicate style of this ring makes it perfect for wearing as a stacking ring or for a young lady's first gemstone ring.

Finger Size: 6-1/2 (can easily be sized). Dimensions: crown...

An early Mexican Deco bracelet, made in Mexico City as indicated by its hallmarks, this massive piece is as well-crafted as it is impressive. Impressive might even be an understatement, actually. Though it is true that vintage Mexican silver jewelry is not of the delicate, demure kind, even after so many years of researching, buying and selling them, I find myself at a loss for words when a piece like this shows up. I love the Spanish Colonial air of the wirework adorning the convex panels with ...

A beautiful ring converted from an antique French stick pin. The ring features an 18K gold and platinum crown set with sparkling rose cut diamonds around a bright red ruby. The gemstone crown is attached to a 14K yellow gold band. The delicate style of this ring makes it perfect for wearing as a stacking ring or for a young lady's first gemstone ring.

Finger Size: 6-1/2 (can easily be sized). Dimensions: crown, 7/16" (11mm) diameter. Weight: 1.9 gr. Approximate Gesmtone Weight: ruby, .2...

A classic design for Hector Aguilar, this bracelet is comprised of a series of heart-shaped links with deeply etched details neatly arranged between two lengths of thick, hand-made chain. A very imposing in its simplicity creation, it is nevertheless a hefty, quite serious piece of jewelry. It feels beguilingly “familiar” around the wrist and conforms to every movement effortlessly. A real pleasure to behold and to wear, a bracelet around which collections are built. Measuring a tad above ...

Very reminiscent of jewelry created in the 1950s by Graziella Laffi, the Italian-born jewelry designer habitually referred to as “the Spratling of Peru”, this is a rarely surfacing creation of Carmen Beckmann’s. Thick, hand-hammered silver sheet that was then oxidized is used to form the bracelet’s main body. Upon that an impressive fish applique marries the piece’s Arts and Crafts feeling with the stylization of ancient Meso-american glyphs. The applique’s thickness adds sculpturali...

An image of a crowned queen graces the front of this antique locket. Her crown has a row of 7 tiny single-cut diamonds, and one slightly larger full-cut diamond at the top. Her hair cascades down to her shoulder, and gold disks hang from the crown. There is a tiny dent at about cheek bone height. The back has a monogram, perhaps an S, and has several little dents, which are highly exaggerated in the photos. The rose gold (it was very hard to photograph the color accurately) tests at about 12k. I...