RARE vintage 1930s handmade sterling silver and carved black onyx pre-Columbian style 'face' Mexican Art Deco letter opener by Fred Davis (1877-1961) of Mexico City. A striking and quite beautiful piece of handcrafted sterling silver from the Art Deco era in Mexico City!
This fine letter opener measures 6-5/8" long by 1-1/4" wide, and weighs 22.7 grams total. Marked at back as shown with the conjoined "FD" maker mark used by Davis. Not marked for silver content as this was not required at that time for items for sale within Mexico, but tested and guaranteed to be as described. Excellent vintage condition.
Here's a short bio of the artist that I compiled from online sources:
Frederick W. Davis (April 17, 1877 - March 7, 1961) operated an antiquities and folk art shop in Mexico City. Davis was an early collector and dealer in pre-Columbian and Mexican folk art and his shop was a place where Mexican Modern artists who were interested in pre-Columbian and folk art, often met.
Davis was born and raised in Illinois. He came to Mexico about 1910 and worked for the Sonora News Company selling newspapers, guidebooks, and souvenirs on the Southern Pacific Railway line south from Nogales, Arizona. Davis, who was interested in folk art and pre-Columbian art of Mexico became the manager of the Sonora Company's arts and crafts showroom in Mexico City. During the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), many Mexican antiques came on the market. After 1920, as stability returned and Americans became interested in Mexico, Davis's shop attracted collectors and other visitors. Artists of the emerging “Mexican school” were interested in both historical and contemporary folk art, so they also gravitated to Davis's shop. Davis was among the first to collect, display and sell their work. He exhibited work by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and Rufino Tamayo; others who came to the shop included Miguel Covarrubias and Jean Charlot.
Davis also displayed work by Americans including George Biddle, Caroline Durieux, and William Spratling.
In 1927, Davis hired Rene d'Harnoncourt as his assistant. D'Harnoncourt worked with Davis until 1933, helping in the purchase and sale of art objects and organizing displays and exhibits in the showroom.
In 1933, Davis left the Sonora News Company and became head of the department of antiques and fine crafts in Frank Sanborn's Mexico City store. He continued supporting Mexican artists and craftsmen by displaying and selling their work. Davis is famed for championing Mexican artists and craftsmen.
That said, Davis’ silversmithing was equally as popular. His pieces were heavily influenced by the art of Mexico. Davis wanted these pieces to feel authentic, collector’s items rather than the typical tchotchkes that were sold to American tourists at that time. The public responded in a big way, elevating Mexican silversmithing to an artform that soon had followers across the globe. Even now, nearly 60 years after his death, Davis pieces are still highly sought after by art collectors and jewelry fans around the world. He was a singular figure in the art world, both because of his work as an artist and as an art dealer.
Fred Davis is best known for his silver jewelry and objects. Well schooled in pre-Columbian art, Davis was heavily interested in the jewelry worn by the indigenous people of Mexico. He worked tirelessly during the years of the Mexican revolution to procure artifacts and antiques that surfaced due to civil unrest. These influences found themselves front and center when Davis began to make jewelry. His pieces were ornamental, but not trite -- very different from other Mexican-inspired art from that time. Davis helped to elevate folk art, making it a valued and serious addition to the high art community.
A 1930s Fred Davis sterling & onyx Mexican Art Deco letter opener - measures 6-5/8" long!
Available in my Ruby Lane shop...
www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...
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