Folkart by Sanborn's

Yeah, Sanborns. Home of fine sterling silver and Fred Davis. Here come these nice handpainted pendants.
I would classify these as folk art - handpainted wood pendants with typical Mexican images. I think my favorite is the batea bowl - too cute. These are super hard to find. I have a necklace with these types of small handpainted wood pendants - but the pendants are much smaller. Except for the pictures in the Davis and Pack book, I never see these. So, I felt fortunate to have found these at a reasonable price. Not sure if these will actually be pendants - but we will see.

FINALLY! Its Arrived

Check your mailboxes and in-baskets cuz it been mailed!!

Sigi Plaque

This is a smaller Sigi Mosaic Plaque - measuring 11 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches - still a good piece to have since they are hard to find.

Frank Lowenstein Cuernavaca - Mexico City DF

I just saw this on the Maestros de Taxco website - here is their description on Lowenstein:





This amazing studio piece was made by designer Frank Lowenstein in Cuernavaca Mexico. Like most of his pieces it is a one-of-a-kind collectible ring. The ring is completely hand-wrought and Mr. Lowenstein has specialized in unique stones that he cuts, polishes and then "listens to" so he can make the most glorious rings. This ring is made in sterling and stamped with Frank's hallmark.

No pic of the Frank Lowenstein hallmark was located or posted. Also, this is the first time I have come upon this particular designer. I will have to do some more research to see where Lowenstein is from.

TISSOT Taxco Designer

UPDATE:

The designer is IONE Tissot - she is the daughter of Felix Tissot. Currently Ione Tissot is the owner of the original "Casa Aquilar" that Felix bought from Hector Aguilar and restored, she offers B&B on a limited basis and you can visit her at Casa Aguilar.

IONE works out of Taxco and indicates she made these particular earrings in the early 90's. I love the design - reminds me of Hector Aguilar.
Not sure if IONE had numerous pieces but I think we will be seeing more of her.

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I am not familiar with this designer - TISSOT.
I have seen the ceramic works by Felix Tissot but not jewelry - I have to consider if they are in some way related tho since Tissot is not that common...
These afre earrings 3 1/2 inches long. These look newer to me due to the 4 digit marks and 950 or 960 silver content. 950 screams made last year to me - thats just me tho - I'm sure its at least 5 years old.

Here is an excert from a web site called digthatcrazyfarout.com felix tissot

In the year 1956 a naturalized US citizen of French origin arrived in Taxco, Mexico to start a new life, a new ceramic studio and a new family. Like many of the artists that had been drawn to Taxco's climate and congenial group of worldly ex-pates that had arrived to seek an ideal, Felix Tissot was looking to start a new life. He had been living at Leona Valley outside Los Angeles in a barren part of the Mojave desert where he was slowly establishing himself as a "Contemporary Modern" ceramist and his work had reached a level of professional production that he had several exhibits in the early 1950's at the famous Gump's department store in San Francisco.

After arriving in Taxco, Felix soon set up a studio in partnership with Antonio Castillo, at #17 Calle Veracruz on the corner across from the Santa Veracruz church and a year and a half experiment that produced a few rare Tissot/Castillo signed pieces. Felix also met a beautiful and talented artist from Canada, Jane Keenan and in short order they were married and living in an apartment in what is now Taxco's municipal hall "Casa Jana" where we see them over breakfast. Here also is seen the first line of ceramics that Felix produced in Taxco. To me it has the "Modern Look" similar to the Dansk line of matt glazed utility pottery.


I cant find my hallmarks to look up Tissot - I'm I will find just the name tho with no further info. If you have any Tissot works or any other info pls post my blog. thanks Tia

Los Castillo Pectoral Necklaces

I thought I would share some exquisite, yet super hard to find, Los Castillo Pectoral neclaces. These are typically pictured in any of the Big Books of Mexican Silver...most gracing the neclace of the author (Penny Morrill).
These necklaces have exceptional repousee work and are marked with an added circle tag with Los Castillo marks and design number. Usually, there is no backing, so the repousee work is easy to see. Some pieces, however, do have a backing. Despite this, their size they are deciptively light weight. One of the hallmarks of good workmanship.

I was able to acquire the Los Castillo Pectoral pictured above - I found a pic on Worthpoint archives where their description includes this piece selling for over $4k - In a good economy, that could even be true - Today though, I was able to acquire it for much less.

These I found on the Maestros de Taxco where it was POR or Price on Request - which you know I believe translates into over $3-4,000 and the Silver Huntress which listed their piece at a reasonable $2,200.

SIGI Mixed Media Plaque

Super hard to find at a good price Modernist Sigi Plaque.
The only draw back on these is that they are sooooo heavy (like 10 lbs.) that I always think the piece and or the wall on which it is hanging must be reinforced due to the weight factor.

There are smaller plaques but the full effect of the modernist piece could be lost or go unnoticed.








I got one some years ago at a super cheap price - and I ignorantly traded it for another piece. Mostly because I couldnt hang it due to the weight - So I would lean it against the wall. So since then, I dont trade and I have been looking to replace my super-modernist Sigi Plaque...and here it is. I havent seen it upclose and personal, but it looks like it might need a little buffing - like someone shoved in the closet against some stuff and got a bit scratchy...no big deal. Its a good price for this 20in by 10 in piece of art work by this artist...yay!