Description
This is an older vintage Art Deco Mexican sterling silver and barrel cut natural amethyst pendant. It has the old 1920s-1940s marking of Mexico Silver to indicate the metal is at least sterling silver quality. It is also tested strongly as sterling silver and is likely a higher grade. Quite often the silver used during this era in Mexico was actually 950 to 980 quality particularly if there were gemstones in the jewelry. Much better than sterling purity of 925. The amethyst is beautifully polished and the silver has fine hand crafting. The top has a hook bail that reaches over the top from the back toward the front and it has a tiny hole at the end circle which just sits atop the front ball on the top face of the pendant.; it doesn’t snap over the ball. The opening will hold a 2-3mm chain. Size of pendant is 1 3/16″ tall north to south by 7/8″ wide across east to west across the center of the body ball end to ball end. The depth is over 1/4″ as the amethyst barrel cut very tall and deep. The amethyst quartz on this one is lovely and overall condition is excellent having minimal age wear; few surface abrasions only, that are not eye noticeable. The silver is also in excellent condition, No damage or tears or dents or dings or deep scratches to the silver. This is a lovely Art Deco gemstone pendant for anyone who collects early versions of Mexican Silver hand crafted gemstone jewelry.
AI Date of Origin Confirmation:
The marking “Mexico Silver” (or “Silver Made in Mexico”) was primarily used from the 1920s through the mid-1940s (pre-dating the 1948 government eagle assay stamps).Timeline and Purity Details1920s–1940s (“Mexico Silver”): Simple stamps denoting origin and high silver content were widely used by Mexican silversmiths during the revival of the silver craft (championed by figures like William Spratling and Frederick Davis).Silver Quality: While the text didn’t rigidly enforce the international “.925” stamp yet, pieces bearing this mark commonly met or exceeded sterling standards, frequently featuring purities of .925, .940, .960, or even .980.Shift in 1948: The Mexican government introduced the official Eagle Mark system in 1948 to standardize quality control and authenticate silver purity, largely replacing these simple text-only origin stamps.
