Armadillo Necklace in Copper?! Yup

Wow!
How did I miss the copper version of this Hector Aguilar Armadillo necklace? Super cool - nice HA marks with nice light brown velvet ribbon cord. So cool - opening bid at just under $900 (ouch!)

Los Ballesteros Mark on Matl Design - Authentic or Fake?

Matl design with Los Ballesteros mark brooch currently on eBay.
The design is clearly Matl or Salas or Domingues - take your pick.
This design and style is reproduced over and over.
But this brooch clearly has the Los Ballesteros markings even tho (to my limited knowledge) there is NO documented Matl design by the Los Ballesteros workshop.

Look at the marks in the pics - it was applied after the brooch was completed.
Me and my friend have debated this in the past:

Are applied marks fake?

I say they are fake - stamped on a separate piece of silver, cut out, then tacked on a finished piece.
Authentic pieces dont have applied or tacked marks.
They are stamped or marked right on the piece.
No pieces, no tacking.

My friend disagrees. She believes that the pieces are authentic even tho the markings are stamped and then placed separately.

I'm hoping the pics help to distinguish authentic designer pieces from those that are not.

Applied Antonio mark on bamboo design bracelet:

My New Patzcuaro Brooch Miguel Covarrubias Design

Ahem,how nice is this sterling silver Patzcuaro brooch?
I compared it to the Davis and Pack Covarrubias design and the folks in my brooch are facing the opposite way. Also, mine is not as detailed - which is ok cuz it is still great. Super hard to find and way cool.

Signed DAG Taxco - dont know who DAG is but I know who its not - Sr. Jesus Cazares..thats ok though - its still nice!

Pluma Azteca Los Castillo

I believe Los Castillo is the only workshop that does the Pluma Azteca technique really well. I have seen other pluma azteca pieces but not marked by Los Castillo. The technique is really quite different using feathers much the pliqueajour (sp) of the Europeans.

Pluma Azateca is frequently mistaken for enameling - why? I couldnt say - clearly its not.

So keep your eyes peeled for your Los Castillo find.

Tita Rubli - Oaxacan Jewelry

I blogged about Tita and her Mazahua Jewelry - her website offers traditional Oaxacan Jewelry for less that what you find on other websites including ebay.
So I had to order a couple of pairs of earrings just to ck it out. One with coral colored stones.
Just got em yesterday - loved one pair - the other pair with the coral disappointed as the corals were different colors. I dont really like stones in my earrings but when they dont match, its just not pretty....

Overall, though I thought it was a good buy and next time I know to ask about the color of the stones.

Tia

Maria Belen Nilson - Artist or Copier?

I saw this super cute brooch on ebay - the description says its sort of a reproduction by an original design by Margot. First, I dont think it was Margot I think it was Los Castillo (yes, Margot was married to Antonio). And second, I was unable to verify that this mark is Maria Belen. I did find her bio on the Novica website which says she is from Argentina....
So, just to confirm my position on reproductions - I generally dont approve.
I say generally cuz there are some exceptions like the nice Patzcuaro pin that I blogged about before...I saw it and it was Nice. Nicely done and well made.

This however, to me anyway, looks like a repro. Given that, I think its way overtpriced. I bet you can find the real Margot or Los Catillo for the same price or less.

So Can Anyone Confirm that this is Maria Belens mark?? Thanks

October is Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

I think every day is some kinda cancer awareness.




I know people with Ovarian, Kidney, pancreatic and Lung cancer...
The pink ribbons arent for them. I'm not even sure they have a color (Oh they prob do). But PINK seems to be the polical winner in awarness and funding...
For all that you would think that a cure is just a few months away...oh well, Cancer Sucks there is just no two ways around it...

In observation of October Breast Cancer Awareness I wanted to post this fabulous Margot in Pink. Pink is kindaofa rare color is Mexican jewelry. So I thought this was cool....It sold for $2100

Yalalag Cross - More

(Image from the Colonial Arts dot com website)







See my entry below from the Amigos Del Arte Popular about the cruz de yalalag.

Mexican Folk Jewelry - Crosses - La Cruz

I continue to research and seek information on the Yalalag cross.
The picture is an example with red heart beads and sterling beads.
I came across this brief historical paragraph on crosses in Mexican Folk Jewelry:

The Cross in Folk Jewelry

Jewelry crosses were not worn in the Americas until the Conquest. (I doubt this statement since its contradicted in the next sentence.). Since then, jewelry crosses of fantastic variety have adorned many "Americans," be they South, Central, or North Americans. Among the most interesting is the Yalalag Cross of San Juan Yalalag, Sierra de Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico. Its basic design, which predates the Conquest, consists of a central cross from which hang three lesser crosses. The decorative elements in the design can be Indian in origin (usually geometric) or Christian (wings, hearts, flowers). A neighboring town, Choapan, uses a cross depicting Christ's head and a pictograph of the Passion (Arma Christi), a Franciscan representation. A cross with two arms in the upper half is called a Patriarchal Cross. This design, combined with two angels, the Caravaca Cross, is found not only in Spain but also in many parts of Mexico and South America. The Maya traditionally used an equilateral cross (the Greek form), representing the four directions or cardinal points. This cross is associated with astronomical / religious orientation and with the Tree of Life. Despite this strong visual tradition, the jewelry cross of Guatemala is usually of the Roman type.

The crucified Jesus has long been interpreted according to local custom and racial origin. His is shown in many diverse styles, the principal idea always being to show "God as Man." The missionaries were adaptable in their interpretations of Christ, following in general the color, style, or manner of those being proselytized. Thus, in contrast with the more austere European Christ, the Latin American Cristo is of a more relaxed, naive (naive? Really?) and sensual form, as seen in Peruvian and Bolivian jewelry crucifixes.

So the Cross symbol, like all symbols, is "a key to a realm greater than itself and greater than the man who employs it," to quote symbolist JC Cooper. It is a simpler, lower expression of a higher truth. Throughout all of the Americas, the cross remains, in all its forms and interpretations—be they native cosmological or European-derived Christian—a potent symbol and force.

Written by Patricia LaFarge to accompany an exhibition at El Rancho de las Golondrinas remote a living-history museum in La Cienega, NM, south of Santa Fe.

Pajaritos De Guanajuato from Mexico DF

You know I like jewelry from Guanajato - this little bird ring is great.
I got it on ebay from masv29. Masv29 is in Mexico City and does offer some nice Taxco sterling items.

However, I failed to read the delivery details - yeah, delivery is 30 business days. So I should receive my item sometime before Christmas...sigh!

Barrera For Avon - Barrera?! Really?

Saw this posting on ebay - Barrera for Avon...
OK so who is Barrera? When did Barrera make or design jewlery for Avon??






This bracelet is listed under the Mexican Jewelry category - I thought it was a very nice design and also I'm curious to know more about the designer....Do you have any info on this Barrera designer??
Opening bid is a mere $9.99 and it looks a gold tone material.
______________________
UPDATE:
This bracelet was released in 1989 and is called Corinthian. It was re-released in 2007 in Silver by Avon...
Here is a bit of info I found on Illusion Jewels website:

Jose Maria Barrera for Avon 1989-1996

And this at the Great Vintage Jewelry website:

These dazzlers were made by Barrera for Avon in the early 1990s and the design is called Florentine. It was not mass produced and all Barrera jewelry is now eagerly sought by collectors.

Finally, this from Becca's Best Jewelry:

Avon jewelry authority and author Sandra Sturdivant, in her book “Identifying AVON JEWELRY”, ... “In 1989, he began contributing upscale jewelry designs with a Spanish influence for Avon. Each piece is innovative and imaginative, and they prove that costume jewelry can be as beautiful as the ‘real thing’.”

He also has many of his designer pieces selling at Neiman-Marcus.

_______________________
thanks
Tia

Pasadena = The Folk Tree

Some years ago, my friend dragged me to this store in Pasadena. It didnt look impressive - until I walked in! Rocky Behr (owner) frequently visits and travels to Mexico - especially Michoacan. She really really likes Dia de Los Muertos and offers tours thru the area during muertos season. Ck out her website which also you can also do a virtual visit.

Now, what is not on the website is her selection of jewelry from Oaxaca and Michoacan. Occasionally, she also has vintage sterling Taxco jewelry. Altho I havent seen any top designers they are pretty decent....So if you are anywhere near Southern Calif, make it a point to visit her shop in Pasadena.



Oh yeah, she usually has an exhibit from well known and local artisans...
www.folktree.com