An elaborate sterling silver knot hanging off a classic repousse semi-sphere takes center-stage in this set of vintage Mexican dangle earrings by renowned Taxco maestro Pedro Castillo. I love Pedro Castillo's work for its complexity and layering and the modernist twist it adds to motifs derived from Mexico's rich cultural past...

An interesting silver pendant depicting the solar system and the attributes of the sign Leo—a lion and a depiction of the sun representing the heavenly body that rules those born into Leo. The pendant is signed “AC” and is stamped with French silver hallmarks.

• Origin: France, ca. 1970
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 3/4” x 1-1/4”
• Weight: 5.2 grams

Two Mexican sterling silver color change Alexandrite synthetic or lab created stone rings to view and select. The color change is so rich from purples with hot pink red flashes in sunlight to yummy blues with lavenders under a lit loupe back to hot pink magenta under incandescent light. These stones used in Mexican jewelry are alway mesmerizing...

c 1930 not commonly found hand made sterling silver articulated pin in a fan and dangle basket design marked "Lillian Pines" and Sterling. She was a contemporary of Mary Gage. Ms. Pine's store was in New York City's Madison Avenue from 1930’s- 1950’s. Similar piece can be seen in Paul Somerson's chicagosilver.com site. A must see site for all collectors of Arts & Crafts works.
Ms. Pines was born in Manchester NH...

An elegant gilt sterling silver oval brooch by Kirk in the "Repousse" pattern. Kirk made a range of jewelry in this pattern but only a few were then gilt. With the addition of a bail to the back, this pin would make a very striking vertical pendant. The back is stamped with Kirk's hallmark from the 1932-61 period.

Origin: America, ca 1950. Condition: excellent, no wear to gilding. Dimensions: 2-7/16" x 15/16". Weight: 18.5 grams.

A vintage Regency period rolled gold plate watch fob with a carnelian stone. This 1-3/8" high man's watch accessory measures 7/8 x 3/4" across the bottom, and the carnelian stone has never been engraved or carved. This fob is unmarked and the plating is intact, and this c1830s item is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, dents, bends, corrosion, losses, damage or repairs...

Trifari's earliest mark, TFK, is stamped on this rhodium plated brooch. From the 1920's, or more probably the 1930's. Classic Deco design. Unbacked glass saphire colored stone. Brooch is 2 1/2" wide, 1 1/2" high.

Early, sweet little ring from Taxco, this pinky is wrought in silver and adorned with what I believe to be an ancient bi-cone stone bead out of which emanate two playful, musical cascabeles. It is not uncommon for vintage Mexican jewelry from the first decades of the country's 20th c. Silver Renaissance to incorporate ancient beads and small artifacts as it was not illegal at the time for individuals to buy and sell them...

A classic pair of Art Deco 10K yellow gold cufflinks, the oval faces simply decorated with engraved parallel lines behind a diamond-shaped reserve for a monogram (never used). The connectors have an unidentified maker’s mark and are stamped “10K”.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: excellent, no monogram. Dimensions: 11/16” x 15/32”. Weight: 3.5 grams.

Habitually referred to as the “Spratling of Peru”, Italian-born Graziella Laffi spearheaded Peru’s own Silver Renaissance in the 1950s. Based on ingenious re-interpretations of ancient Inca motifs, her jewelry, decorative objects and holloware are avidly sought after by committed collectors for their impeccable craftsmanship and inspired design...

A rare find. Lanvin jewelry is not often seen. This dramatic piece is of plastic with glass spacers and goldtone metal accents. The vibrant white and blue beads surround coral colored beads (paler in the picture than they actually are). The oval metal tag is marked Lanvin, Paris. Total inside length is 27".

When it comes to classy Mexican jewelry, nobody can beat Margot de Taxco. Margot had that rare, innate ability to instinctively create elegant designs which defied the whims of fashion and remain as relevant today as they did when they first became available. The set of repousse earrings presented here is, I believe, a very good illustration of what I am trying to say. I have had pieces of her des...

The beauty of the pin speaks for itself. The well-crafted bird is perched on a branch with leaves. It has a red stone eye, and is adorned with rhinestones and turquoise stones. It measures 2 1/3" x 1 1/8". The back is marked BOUCHER and numbered 8502P. It is in excellent condition.

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...

Hallmarks date these Hector Aguilar earrings 1940-1948. Perfect flowers, each with a domed center, leaves, and tiny beading, make these earrings both elegant and classy for everyday use or a special occasion. Screwbacks work perfectly. Measures 7/8" wide. Weight is 12 grams. Signed and hallmarked "HA 940 Taxco. Excellent vintage condition.

Here is an interesting portrait in silver, of a wind-swept young person clad in a cloak and hood. It’s very detailed and just lovely. We think it’s a boy (very unusual in jewelry), as the hair seems to be quite short under the hood. The hood itself looks like a cap made from a flower, as seen on fairies in Victorian children’s books. It measures 1-1/8” wide, is hollow, and is marked “STERLING TOP GERMAN SILVER BACK”. The sterling front is in very good condition...

A classic pair of mid-century oval shaped silver monogram double-sided cufflinks (without the monogram) from Denmark, oval shape with simple scroll border design, marked on connector bar 830S and maker's mark of TM; Measures 5/8" x 1/2"; Cufflinks show minimal wear.

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...

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 cool ring is a size 8. It has a great design. The is 1/2" wide. It is marked J & SS, has the Lion Passant mark indicating silver, the town mark indicating London and the cursive, uppercase D mark indicating 1978. It has good heft and is in excellent condition.

This rare find is a cross pendant, decorated with maracsites and a central ruby. It measures 1 1/4" x 7/8". The back is marked STERLING 925 with amark in the middle. It also has an eagle mark that looks like # 36; but, I cannot be sure. It is in excellent condition.

A retail shop in Taxco, Margarita was a place were one could buy jewelry by many local maestros, according to Bille Hougart. The long, beautifully made dangle earrings presented here bear only the shop’s name without a specific maker’s signature yet this does not affect their quality at all. Obviously hand-wrought with deeply chased details that have been oxidized to add depth to the design, the set combines scroll and feather motifs with beading and glows with the silky patina of a life wel...

Weighing 5.4 Ounces, this vintage knotted 50" long juicy red beads necklace could have been seen in a movie like "Chicago" and these have certainly been worn by someone who may have danced the night away. Everywhere the eyes rest will see sparkly faceted glass in five different shapes. 151 grams of dancing sparkle.
The 20 Cube beads are 10-11 mm across,
40 red wafers are 10mm,
20mm oblong ones,
Small clear wafers are 4 mm. The filigree clasp may have been added later to facili...

Reply to Ms KD: as noted here, these have perfectly working turn wheel SBs, Please see image 2.
Earrings are the first to go! These Art Deco 12mm simulated green jade stone Peking art glass bead earrings on sterling silver, no less, are a must have! The globule infused beads, made to resemble green jade, are referred by some as Chinese peking glass a sought after collectible.

The Sbs back findings are working turn wheels that are stamped: Sterling. Please see image 2.
North to Sou...

I am a big fan of Carmen Beckmann’s Etruscan style jewelry - her domed Etruscan ring is a foundational piece in my collection and I enjoy it thoroughly. There is something about the way the wire-work and tiny florets with their bead centers oxidize with time that creates an air of warm, comfortable luxury around them that gets me every time. I could easily see the dangle earrings at hand worn by dignified Roman matrons leisurely enjoying their honeyed wine. Measuring 1 1/4” long by 1 1/8” ...

An early Los Castillo design and very much in keeping with the 1940s' love for sweeping flourishes this set of earrings, carefully hand-cut, overlaid and oxidized will add just the right amount of festive spirit to your outfit. Bold and confident, the swirls seem to twist upon themselves in excitement and then reach high up for the skies with abandonment. Got to love the Los Castillo and the myriad ways in which they still make our day. The earrings measure 1 3/4" tall by 3/4" wide and weigh 12....

After working for Spratling in Las Delicias and Hector Aguilar in Taller Borda, Reveriano Castillo opened his shop Reveri in 1952 with the co-operation of his wife, Maria. His jewelry is known for its impeccable finishing and the good quality of materials used so I am always happy to come upon one of his creations. The set of earrings at hand in an abstract floral design with articulated stamen dangle is as sweet-as-can-be and ideal to celebrate the coming of Spring this year. Measuring 1 3/4...

The "queen" of shadowbox designs, Victoria - otherwise Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti - also excelled in the "married metals" technique. Her work is inspired, of the highest quality and today it is considered part of Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance design index. The adjustable sterling silver ring I am presenting here is out of her coveted "angel" parure. The form does not come up very often and I am happy to have come upon a beautifully aged example. Beading and black-as-pitch oxidation in the...

Composed of two rectangular layers of sterling silver, top one curved and with a cutout comma-shaped design exposing a highly oxidized interior. The ring is marked sterling and has Joseph Skinger’s script signature mark. Skinger was a Vermont studio metalsmith who was most productive during the 1950s and 1960s; he died in 1967. I am told by Carol Skinger, Joe's daughter, that the design is known as 'Mountain Shadow' and was produced as choker necklaces, bracelets and pins. The top of the ring ...

An iconic motif in the index of Mexican Deco jewelry design, “masks” can be found carved in stone, molded in glass, created in inlay or enamel but also en repoussage like in the brooch presented here. Made by maestro Barrera in Mexico City most probably, its workmanship follows that city’s school of repousse jewelry of which Matilde Poulat is the most renowned creator. A stippled and oxidized background accentuates the raised, warmly glowing elements of the design, bringing to the fore in ...

Composed of delicate vertical leaf fronds, this necklace looks to be of fine gold, but is really made of gold-plated metal. The bright surface shows very little wear, due to Krementz & Company’s rolled gold-plating process used on the Newark, NJ, firm’s best lines of costume jewelry. The leaves are textured with detailed lines produced by careful engine-turned engraving. The chain is composed of tiny cylindrical pieces secured to a fine wire so that they are stabilized. There is a spike and ...

Who among lovers of vintage Mexican silver jewelry does not know Margot de Taxco's zodiac treasures? Charms, pendant, charm bracelets and brooches, they come in all those forms and they are avidly collected. Yet how many times have you come upon a mini, almost lingerie size, Margot astrological pin? Rare and sweet as can be, this 1 1/2" Aries beauty is irresistible. I can easily see it worn alongside one of its... "adult" versions, don't you think? Just just a tad over 1 1/2" tall by 13/16" wide...

Vintage clip earrings in dark goldtone metal with brilliant green glass stones, with a rope form quatrefoil cross motif and snake chain tassels. 1970s, probably French based on the design, color, and metal. 3 inches long and just under 1/2 inch wide. Excellent condition. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Vintage filigree niello silver Persian Gulf scenery bracelet that while being shown at a show several years ago, was seen by an elderly engineer who worked in Iran in the 50s. He said, '...this bracelet was commissioned by the Shah of Iran as a gift in gratitude for the wives of engineers who were there building the oil fields...' Note the odd motifs scribed on to the niello.
Tests at least 90% silver and measures 6 3/4" inside while secure clasp is engaged and is in very good unpolished...

Beautiful vintage 1930s bib necklace in dark goldtone metal with festooned chains with solid metal drops with a cross hatched design, with hook clasp. Most likely French, based on quality and construction. Substantial and very well made. No missing elements. 18 1/2 inches wearable length and the center drops about 1 5/8 inches. Display form is life size. Photos enlarged to show detail.

Dating in the first period of the Los Ballesteros workshop but after their 1941 move from Iguala to Taxco, this combination pin / pendant is an "archaeologically inspired" piece. A multitude of techniques come together in the creation of the figural scene that dominates here. Azur malachite inlay provides the canvas within which the combined copper and silver praying (?) figure is laid in. Surrounding all this, the sterling silver frame is embellished with overlay, oxidation and pyramid-shaped c...