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Very Large Mexican Sterling Silver Mosaic Lapis Malachite Donkey Lapel Pin

$65.00

This is an extra large, thick, vintage, handmade, Mexican Sterling Silver mosaic pin inlaid with malachite and sodalite/lapis stone. It is marked Mexico, N-44, 925. Size is extra large and measures 2 9/16″ long by 1 5/8″ wide north south on the cactus and 1 1/4″ wide north south on the donkey. Weight is Heavy at 17gr. The hand crafting is lovely with a very pretty mix of stones. From the back one can see that the sterling is hand wrought. All of the mosaic work is full and smooth with a thickly applied laminate finish so that all of the mosaic will always stay intact. Condition is excellent, gently used having only light faint surface scuffs to the silver that are Not eye obvious at all when the pin is used. All mosaic is intact. No dents, dings, tears, chips, deep scratches, gauges etc…No wear to the stones. Never repaired or altered in any way. Completely original. This is a gorgeous big, showy, well made pin for your Mexican Silver jewelry collection.

In stock

SKU: 494 Categories: , Tag:

Description

Mexican Sterling Silver Mosaic Lapis Malachite Donkey Pin X Large

About Vintage Mexican Silver Jewelry:

Reference: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/fine-jewelry/mexican

Silversmithing has been practiced for centuries in Mexico. In fact, Mexican silversmiths taught the Navajo of the Southwestern United States their trade. But it took an American named William Spratling to see the opportunity to build on this legacy. He did this in 1931, when he established a retail outlet for Mexican jewelry near the silver-mining center of Taxco.

Spratling’s designs borrowed liberally from pre-Columbian motifs found on Mexico’s pyramids and lifted from the 14th-century symbols that fill the Codex Zouche-Nuttal. It was open-source material, if you will. So it shouldn’t be too surprising that as his shop succeeded and imitators sprang up nearby, the designs themselves were appropriated.

Some competitors were actively encouraged. In fact, the Taxco School, as it is known today, was formed largely from former Spratling employees. Examples are the Castillo brothers, Héctor Aguilar, and Antonio Pineda. In addition, Valentin Viadurreta brought a Mexican eye to Art Deco. Naturally, these artisans and their shops became incubators for still more generations of silversmiths.

For those who could not make the trip to Taxco, U.S. stores took the step of importing these popular goods. At one point everyone from fashionable Gump’s in San Francisco to Montgomery Ward in Chicago carried silver jewelry and tableware by Taxco designers.