Beautiful very long vintage 1920s necklace with graduated cherry amber Bakelite faceted translucent beads, strung in a continuous strand with no clasp. Tests positive for Bakelite with Simichrome. Great size -- 62 inches wearable length. The largest center bead is 22mm by 13mm and the smallest beads are 8mm by 6mm. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

These fine, vintage / antique cufflinks are "chain links." They consist of inlaid jasper, bloodstone and agate in sterling silver. They are hallmarked J.C & S (for Joseph Cook & Sons). They also have the Anchor hallmark for Birmingham, England, the Lion Passant for 925 sterling silver and the date letter E for 1929. They are in excellent condition.

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...

An applied shimmering sterling double boomerang, riveted on the highly polished and oxidized body catches the eye in this vintage Mexican silver bracelet by renowned Taxco modernist Enrique Ledesma. A successful marriage of the link and bangle forms, it is made up of three articulated “wings” and when worn maintains is circular shape perfectly. It’s been a while since I offered an example of this specific Ledesma line and I am very happy to be presenting this piece today...

Potent design and perfect execution combine in this set of Antonio Pineda cufflinks shaped like bull skulls...

A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out Plus qu’hier, moins que demain,” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”) a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano”) in 1889...

A Victorian 10k yellow gold and almandine garnets brooch c1860. This antique 2" x 1/2" brooch in 10k yellow gold with genuine light pink and purplish red almandine garnet gemstones. This pin is typically unmarked and it tests as 10k gold. It has fine tooling and wirework and it has the original c-clasp. It weighs 5.1 grams and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, dents, corrosion, losses, damage or repairs other than a bit of indenting around the outer edge...

A classic pair of Art Deco sterling silver stirrup cufflinks, the ends set with black onyx sugarloaf cabochons. This style of cufflink was popularized by Cartier in the 1920s. The cufflinks bear Swiss import hallmarks used until 1934, and are stamped "935" indicating that they have a slightly higher pure silver content than sterling silver.

• Origin: Continental Europe, probably France, ca...

These collector quality mid-century earrings are a very seldom seen design from Hector Aguilar. These are gorgeous, comfortable to wear, and have great movement. Each earring has nine dangles, each tipped with a tiny silver ball. Screw backs work perfectly,. Measures 1 3/4" tall, 3/4" wide. Weight is 12 grams. Signed and hallmarked on each earring with a conjoined flared HA,.940 Taxco, and the eagle assay 9. In excellent vintage condition.

A lovely 18K yellow and white gold, ruby and enamel love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out Plus qu’hier, moins que demain,” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”) a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano”) in 1889. The word “plus” is symbolized by a plus sign in white gold and the word “moins” by a minus sign set with rectangular cut synthetic rubies...

One of my favorite female designers of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance (and admittedly, they aren't so many to begin with), Carmen Beckmann was a rather flexible maestra, able to create in many different styles. using a variety of materials. Her jewelry can be massive and jaw-dropping but quite as easily delicate and more sophisticated...

This is a classic “cigar band” ring from around the turn of the last century, and moving into the Edwardian era, often called a “gypsy” ring, made from richly-colored 18kt yellow gold. The center stone is a diamond, the outer two stones are rubies. It has decorative scroll work on the shoulders. The hallmarks are for Chester, England, 1903, and there is an illegible maker’s mark. It weighs 4.0g, and is approximately size 5...

An elegant pair of Edwardian sterling silver cufflinks, the faces decorated with purple guilloche enamel accented with a border of opaque white enamel. The backs are stamped "Sterling."

• Origin: America, ca. 1910
• Condition: excellent, no enamel damage
• Dimensions: 23/32" x 7/16" (18 x 11 mm)
• Weight: 5.7 grams

Outstanding late Art Nouveau Continental silver cufflinks with a wonderful design of a gold spider sitting in her niello web. The workmanship and design is quite original and accomplished. The backs are marked with unidentified Continental (possibly German) marks, including the jeweler’s mark “HF”.

Origin: Europe, circa 1900. Condition: excellent, all original, no enamel damage. Size: 27/32” x 15/32”. Weight: 5.5 grams.

A lovely 14K gold pendant designed as a young woman's face captured in a crescent moon. She wears a large brimmed bucket hat with trailing ribbons in the style of the early 20s. In Victorian jewelry symbology, the crescent moon was a reminder of the moon goddess Selene (AKA Luna) and was often used to signal female empowerment. The reverse is marked "14K."

• America, ca...

This vintage Italian 18K gold and ebony blackamoor charm is distinguished by particularly nice carving. She is adorned with gold hoop earrings and a gold collar that forms the base of the charm. The bottom is stamped with 18K gold hallmarks used in Florence 1938-64.

• Origin: Italy, ca. 1950.
• Condition: excellent.
• Dimensions: 1-1/16" tall (not including bail or jump ring).

Exuding a primordial strength and keeping its secrets well hidden under layers of hand-etched scales, beading and overlay this stunning creature - I see it as a sea serpent but on second thought and if those appliques running along its spine are stylized feathers, it could be Quetzalcoatl as easily - is another treasure bearing the signature of Doris and her Corpus Artisans group of maestros...

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.

When I first started my love-affair with vintage Mexican silver jewelry, I found myself intrigued by the work of artists whose names were not among the first ones a new collector would focus on. I love a challenge and seeking out “less celebrated” maestros who nevertheless created superbly crafted jewelry in imaginative designs became my “mission”...

A handsome pair of French silver Art Nouveau cufflinks, the faces decorated with a young woman against a spider web background. In Art Nouveau jewelry, the spider web motif was meant to symbolize entrapment and danger—in this case as a counterpoint to the maiden who suggests innocence. The outer edges of the faces follow the geometric shape of the spider web at the top, but are more rounded at the bottom of the design where the woman’s hair and clothing flows...

A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out Plus qu’hier, moins que demain,” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”) a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano”) in 1889. The word “plus” is symbolized by a plus sign set with a rose cut diamond and the word “moins” by a minus sign set with rectangular cut synthetic rubies.

In 1907, the Lyonn...

This bracelet is the work of Horatio de la Parra, whose company Plateria Azteca produced hollowware for both William Spratling and Hector Aguilar.

It's an early piece, dating to the 1940's. Six repoussé silver panels, each with a high domed amethyst cabochon, make for a regal deco design bracelet which closes with a pin.

Closed, wearable length is 6 3/4". Width is 1 3/8".

Weight is 73.8 grams.

Signed and hallmarked "Parra Mexico Silver Hnos".

A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out Plus qu’hier, moins que demain,” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”) a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano”) in 1889. The word “plus” is symbolized by a plus sign set with a rose cut diamond and the word “moins” by a minus sign set with rectangular cut synthetic rubies. In 1907, the Lyonnais jew...

Pendant necklaces are a favorite of mine - I love their versatility and the fact that I can layer them whichever way I want. Luckilly, there is a fabulous selection within the world of vintage Mexican silver jewelry to choose from but I feel particularly lucky to have come upon an example of a classic Taxco design that is, however, smaller in scale than pendants of this design usually in. Set with a color-change sapphire (often, and mistakenly, referred to as “alexandrite”) the “Aztec Sun�...

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...

Attributions are a difficult issue in the world of vintage Mexican silver jewelry - they are almost never accepted. If a piece is not signed, it’s just not signed! In this case, however, I will put my years of experience behind my suggestion that the necklace I am presenting here is the work of Reveriano Castillo. When I acquired it, it had no clasp and since the specific Reveri design is usually marked exactly there, the connection to its maker was lost. I had my jeweler craft a fold-over cla...

Calling the vintage Mexican silver and black stone "mask" ring I am presenting here massive is not an exaggeration. It is not just the actual ring size (9.5 US) that makes it so; it is also the textured, solid setting, quite masculine in design, and the beautifully carved, stupendous effigy it houses. I am not sure what the stone is - I think it might be onyx but it could also be black agate. I am fascinated by its opaque gravity and the way its satin finish invites the touch. And what about tho...

This is a gorgeous cuff produced by Los Castillo, with deeply chased swirling lines, oxidized recesses, and a beautiful patina. Signed and hallmarked Los Castillo Taxco, with the eagle assay 15 and design # 110. Weight is 58.9 grams. Edge to edge measures 5 5/8", with an additional opening/gap of 1 3/8". This will fit a larger wrist, but can be gently adjusted to size by a professional jeweler. In excellent vintage condition. Circa 1950's.

Per the Spratling Silver website, these earrings were only produced between 1958-1967. These William Spratling earrings are stunning, with eight shiny discs and tiny beading. Each disc moves independent of the others, creating beautiful movement. Measures 1 1/2" tall, 7/8" wide. Screw backs work perfectly. Signed and hallmarked with the WS Script Circle and eagle assay 30. Weight is 11.2 grams. In excellent vintage condition.

Chunky fine, .970 silver and gorgeous, appetizingly curvaceous tiger's eye spheres come together in this set of Mexican cufflinks by Taxco's renowned modernist, Antonio Pineda. The specific design is very popular in necklace and bracelet form but when it surfaces, it is usually with chrysoprase or aventurine or some other green stone. This is the first time I have seen it with tiger's eye and I have to admit, I love the combination. What I also find very tempting is that the cufflinks seem to ha...

Circa mid-century, this is a rarely seen design from Antonio Pineda. I have seen hoop earrings from Antonio, but not this exact design with the rims.

These are fabulous! Repousse sterling silver hoop earrings which are very substantial - weighing 32 grams. Wide and puffy in the center, with a rim on each side. They are comfortable to wear and very secure. Hinged on one side, so simply open in the center to slide right on your ears. Classy, with an elegant modernist design.

It's been a very long time since I offered a Mexican clamper bracelet and I am happy to be starting again with a classic Taxco design, this repousse and shadowbox "Quetzalcoatl" example. The maestro who signs it I am familiar with - he worked in Taxco and it seems that clamper bracelets were one of his favorite forms. Always beautifully executed, his repoussage has good sculpturality and finishing and his jewelry, albeit not as heavy as those of the big talleres, has the weight necessary to impa...

Hand-wrought in its entirety and a design that I have never encountered before, this early Mexican silver repousse necklace is an anonymous beauty. Its early date is attested to by the fact that it's strung on cotton thread (one of the earliest Aguilar "lyre" necklaces I sold was strung on cotton as well) and has a spring ring clasp. Not signed for maker nor metal content or origin, it is adorned by an elongated cascabela attached to the central station in an adorable yet naive way. I have to ad...

This large Fred Davis amethyst brooch was produced 1930's - early 40's. Measuring 4 1/2" long, 2 3/16" wide, it features a gorgeous hand-carved amethyst tulip. Pin closes with a roller. Signed and hallmarked with a conjoined FD and Silver Mexico. Weight is 32 grams. In excellent vintage condition. Some very minor abrasions on the edge of the tulip, but nothing seen without magnification.

Circa mid-century, these earrings are a rare find. Produced by Margot de Taxco, these are a book-piece design shown on page 34 of Margot Van Voorhies : The Art of Mexican Enamelwork. Both earrings and original design drawing are shown.

Referred to as "Egyptian Scroll", the colors are bright and vibrant. Gold, black, and green enamel.

Measure 1 9/16" x 1 1/4". Clips are tight and perfect.

Hallmarked with the design # 5758 on one earring, and the eagle assay 16 on ...

An early Taxco treasure, this Mexican Deco cuff bracelet is both generous in weight and wrought in fine, .980 silver. The design is classic for the period and I have seen all-silver versions of it over the years by anonymous and recognizable names, that of Emma and La Cucaracha being among the most famous. The marriage of silver and copper that we are treated to here, however, I have never encountered before. Not only is the mixing of the metals unusual - the incorporation of the specific silver...