a GORGEOUS vintage 1980s 90s handmade sterling silver and turquoise Mexican modernist cocktail ring designed by Antonio Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco. A roughly triangular turquoise cabochon with silver beads at four points, and encircled by square sterling wire. Entirely handmade, and like all of Antonio's designs from this part of his life, the work of a mature and sophisticated designer! Measures just over 1" long at top by just under 7/8" wide, size 8 US, and weighs 6.4 grams total. Marked inside the band as shown, "Los Castillo Sterling TA-01". An exceptionally striking natural turquoise stone of vibrant color, and great quality!
Excellent vintage condition.
https://www.rubylane.com/item/1879775-5372/GORGEOUS-Vintage-1980s-Antonio-Castillo-Los?search=1
a RARE and wonderful vintage 1950s handmade one of a kind Mexican modernist Medusa design brooch by the Emaus workshop of Cuernavaca Mexico. They were a force to be reckoned with in Mexican mid century art and craft, but they also made jewelry which is much more rare and hard to find than their wall hangings and sculpture. They were only in existence from about 1950 to 1980, and many of their designs were by important Mexican architects and designers including Ernesto Paulsen Camba (1925-2006) who was a Mexican modernist sculptor, architect, and designer. The legend of Medusa is of course from the Ancient Greeks, and here's a short bit I found online about her:
Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. According to legend she was a virgin priestess of Athena who broke her vows by having an affair with the god Poseidon, and Athena cursed her for her betrayal by turning her into the monster of legend. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon. The severed head, which had the power of turning into stone all who looked upon it, was given to Athena, who placed it in her shield.
The only example of this brooch that I have seen by Emaus in my 45+ year career! Hand painted ceramic 'face' at center bezel-set in a sterling silver frame and with a halo of writhing applied sterling silver 'snakes' surrounding the face. Such a unique piece, and no doubt a one of a kind! Measures 2.5" by 2", and weighs 21 grams total. Marked at back as shown, "Emaus 0.925".
Excellent vintage condition.
https://www.rubylane.com/item/1879775-5373/Vintage-1950s-Emaus-One-Kind-Handmade?search=1
a SUPERB vintage 1950s 60s handmade 970 silver and amethyst Mexican modernist brooch designed by Antonio Pineda and made for him by Los Castillo in Taxco. A sculpted dimensional geometric design in high-grade 970 silver with an inset oval amethyst cabochon set off-center! An outstanding design by Antonio Pineda, and made for him by Los Castillo during the labor unrest in Taxco in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Many of the silversmiths in Taxco went on strike for better wages and working conditions, and this unrest hit many of the workshops quite hard including Antonio Pineda. However, he had a longstanding relationship with the Castillo brothers at Los Castillo, and arranged for them to make his designs for a couple of years until the labor conditions improved. Measures 2.75" long by 1-1/4" wide, and weighs a hefty 27 grams total. Marked at back as shown with both Los Castillo marks from the period, as well as the Antonio crown mark, along with "970 Hecho en Mexico" and the Eagle 58.
Excellent vintage condition.
https://www.rubylane.com/item/1879775-5374/SUPERB-Vintage-1950s-60s-Antonio-Pineda?search=1
Three beauties from Mexico...
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