Upcoming Show: Sausalito Vintage Jewelry

I dont usually post or list any shows = there are so many but this one is my neck of the woods- altho if gas prices keep rising I prob wont be able to afford to attend.




Sausalito Vintage Jewelry & Antique Show
May 7–8, 2011 • Sausalito, California

Golden Gate Shows
415-383-2252

Event hours: Saturday 10-6 Sunday 10-5

Admission $6 Web page : goldengateshows.com/

Coin Jewelry 20 Cents Worth

I really like the old coin vintage jewelry. The early coins were made in real sterling silver and real gold... The people and jewelrs took these coins and made them wearable - According to Davis and Pack (and others) its referred to as Folk Jewelry cuz thats what the folk wore. Its what was at hand.
You see coin jewelry mixed with old venetian beads - mostly read hearts - but some are multi colored and can be found from Mexico and Guatemala. ...See oldbeads website for very good (and expensive) examples.

This particular piece is now a pendant but I think it started as a pair of earrings.
Love the dangle fringe - all sterling - very cool piece of folk jewelry...

Porcayo Por Que No

The seller on this item indicates this is Manuel Porcayo - this is tytpical of the MP that I have seen - this one is marked with the Mano or Hand mark.
This doesnt really make my heart flutter so I guess it wouldnt be something I personally would purchase - but thats just me.













Now this piece is currenly on ebay its an older piece by A. PORCAYO - ok so I couldnt help but wonder if these PORCAYO's are somehow related - The name is not that common and I really dont run accross it in my searches. I really like this piece because it s remiscent of Aztec design.


I should prob ck my Billie H book to see if there is any relation but it just seems like too much work....If you have info pls let me know.

Hubert Harmon

Hubert Harmon is sooo hawt! I just got this BIN and I LOVE IT. The patina is amazing. Given the shape and the structure of it I wonder if its just the one half of a super cool belt buckle. The seller noted that this piece was in the Mexican Silver exhibit....I went to the exhibit but dont recall the Hubert Harmon pieces...I did see a few pieces at the Marc Navarro Gallery - pretty cool items that I had not seen before including some holloware...but the prices - ouch!! So I feel really lucky to have scored this piece - the most iconic and in Sterling, properly marked with the winged feet...Yup lucky.

More Patzcuaro Necklaces

Modern Silver Magazine Marketplace

Wow! MSM now features a Marketplace section - seller can post for a small fee and you can shop some of the finest signed sterling - You know I am a sucker for Danish sterling (see My Vintage Scandanavian Silver blog). Check out the site for great buys on rare, signed, sterling designer pieces. Priced accordingly by knowledable sellers....

http://www.modernsilver.com/marketplace.html

Rossana Taxco

Rossana is currently listed - here is the sellers description:

This is a fabulous Modernist styled pin that is a bust of a woman. It is made out of Sterling Silver and has enameled accents in the design of blue and red-orange. The pin has a bar pin with a C-clasp that work perfectly. On the backside it is signed Rossana, Mexico, 925 and registration number TR-28. I would say that it is used and in excellent condition, the silver has a nice patina to it and there is no chipped or missing enamel. The pin measures approximately 2 2/8 inches in height and 1 inch wide.

When I first saw this it just screamed popowski. Modernist woman with red enameling in the left breast or heart area. I have never seen this designer before. The marks reminded me of ProSa - although this is not their usual design style.
Keep your eyes peeled for this particular designer = we may see more of him/her. If you know anything, pls post.

I really liked this piece - bidding starts at a confident $68.

Its Called A PATINA

I cracked up when I read this listing description on ebay:



Vintage Mixed Metals of Copper and Silver on Fumed Wood Plaque Signed "Talleres Monasticos with Logo Mexico Sterling and the Eagle 1"

Approximate measurements: 9 7/8"h" x 4.75"w x 7/8"d

Condition: Fair. There are scratches to the wood's fumed finish, including a rectangular area on the front lower right. The sterling of Maria is discolored, and may or may not clean up. (We're in the ladies against polishing club.)
The Talleres Monasticos was the silversmith workshop of the Benedictine monks of Cuernavaca.

______________________________

I am a long-time member of The Ladies Against Polishing club and I didnt even know there was a club. Over the years, I have recruited many members, explaining that sterling silver does not have to look like shiny chrome.
Sterling when exposed to air, or oxidation, does tend to darken, leave it, do not succomb to the polishing temptation no matter how strong it may be....
When polishing is required, do it GENTLY with a silver cloth.

websters definition:
* a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use
* an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
* a superficial covering or exterior

ANTONIO Lipstick Holder

This is such an amazing piece of workmanship!
Nice weight and measuring about 3 inches in length, I wasn't surprised to see
Antonio's Crown mark (authenic).

Embellished with a garnet , this item was really unused since it was sold in Taxco in the late 1950's. Everything, in nice working order.

GET YOUR APPRA1SAL

D1d you hear?? The summer schedule for the Antiques Road Show has been released.
I encourage you to go and take your treasures if it is any where near you.

________________
ROADSHOW's 2011 Tour features a series of local events at which top appraisers offer the public free evaluations of antiques and collectibles -- revealing the often surprising history and value of these items.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 2011 stops and dates include:

City Date
Eugene, OR June 4, 2011
El Paso, Texas June 18, 2011
Minneapolis, MN July 9, 2011
Tulsa, OK July 23, 2011
Atlanta, GA August 6, 2011
Pittsburgh, PA August 13, 2011

Admission to ANTIQUES ROADSHOW events is free, but tickets are required and must be obtained in advance. Ticket applications and complete ticketing rules will be available on pbs.org/antiques or by dialing toll-free 1-888-762-3749 after ANTIQUES ROADSHOW's season premiere, Monday, January 3, 2011, at 8/7C PM on PBS.

Check the PBS ARS website for more info...I think I will be attending the El Paso show.

Matilde Poulat Matl

Matilde Poulat circa 1900 - 1960
Ricardo Salas ? - 2006


Matilde was born in the early 1900's (I have to confirm)
- she ESTABLISHED her shop in 1934 and worked until her death - -
Ricardo Salas took over for Matilde after she passed away in 1960

PREHISPANIC INFLUENCED JEWELRY

Another important issue in the gallery are the jewels known as "matl". These were initiated by Matilde Eugenia Poulat, a native of Yucatan, who had studied in gold, in the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts in Mexico City.

Matilde in her jewelry was very influenced by Hispanic and particularly the Mixtec culture, discovered in 1932. She received international awards for her creations made between 1934 and 1960, the year she died. Her nephew Ricardo Salas, who worked for her, continued with their designs and among its most loyal customers are María Félix, Dolores del Rio, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Columba Domínguez, Joan Manuel Serrat, Princess Letizia Ortiz and Juan Pablo II, to quote the most important.

The jewels are made of silver, turquoise, amethyst and red coral. These include replicas of the jewels of Frida Kahlo.
___________________________________________________
JOYERIA DE INFLUENCIA PREHISPANICA

Otro tema importante en la Galería son las joyas conocidas como “matle”. Estas fueron iniciadas por Matilde Eugenia Poulat, originaria de Yucatán, quien tenía estudios en orfebrería, en la academia de San Carlos, de Bellas Artes, en México DF.

Matilde en su joyería tiene mucha influencia prehispánica y en particular de la cultura mixteca, descubierta en 1932. Recibió reconocimientos internacionales por sus creaciones que efectuó entre 1934 y 1960, año en que fallece. Su sobrino Ricardo Salas, colaborador de ella, continuó con sus diseños y entre sus más asiduos clientes se encuentran María Félix, Dolores del Río, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Columba Domínguez, Joan Manuel Serrat, la princesa Leticia Ortiz y Juan Pablo II, por citar a los más importantes.

Las joyas están confeccionadas en plata, turquesas, amatista y coral rojo. Entre éstas se encuentran réplicas de las joyas de Frida Kahlo.

source: cybertour.cl
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TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH TO ENGLISH Courtesy of Google Language Tools
Thanks Google!!
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MATL continues to produce jewelry - not sure if they are copies or legitimate from the Matl workshop - if there is such a workshop (tho I doubt it). If you have any info, pls let me know. thanks Tia

Hubert Harmon Hallmark

You saw my long bio on Hubert Harmon which was posted in June 2010 - I always think everybody is familiar with his hallmark - but I am sadly mistaken.
So I am posting a sample his hallmark with winged feet altho sometimes his mark is just his name (and no winged feet). This particular mark is on Brass, which was not unusual for Hurbert - Brass, Copper, Sterling. I havent come across any gold pieces but if one popped up, it would not surprise me.
A hallmark on a piece is great but his designs are unmistakable - I mean really, Poodles, who does Poodles?! Hubert does thats who.

Fake or Authenic Margot de Taxco

NOTE piece above:
Silver content of 950
R Marking -
3 Digit marking (should be 4 digits beginning with 5)

The recently released Margot book is certainly an excellent reference for the serious hardcore Taxco collector or the beginning novice collector.
As the book hits the market, I expect the prices for Margot to shoot up.
So, whaat does that do to the market? Yeah, fakes and repros...thats not because of the relsease of the book the fakes and repros have long been out there.
But its nice to know the book addresses the Alba and Quiroz molds n makers.

Here is a pic of a recently listed 'authentic' and 'vintage' Margot de Taxco. I would expect lots more of this will be coming up - shop cautiously...again, nothing wrong with knockoffs and remakes as long as thats how they are being sold - when you cant afford the more expensive authentic pieces, this is a good alternative - just my little opinion...so check the pic and know what to l@@k out for as NOT vintage NOT authentic - yeah, shop cautiously.

Margot de Taxco Book Review

Thanks to my fellow Blogger Zoe for her brief comments and review on the recently released Margot book. I wanted to wait like a minute before I posted but with Zoe's comments I will go ahead. I want to say that the pics and quality was exceptional - all color plates with no drawings or depictions...very nice and no expense spared in the production.
But yes, I would have like seen some other less known or seen pieces (I missed the Roman numerals set) and I should have just sent in my pics of my Margot = my favorite being the rare and hard to find zodiac necklace with all 12 pieces hanging from it. But there were some amazing pieces pictured like that blue or purple carved set. I saw that in the first Mexican exhibit and its breathtaking.

I would have liked to have seen some text and pics of some of the other Taxco women designers - Bernice Goodspeed, Victoria, Carmen Beckmann, or Matl. But no, just more Los Castillo = I love Antonio but he already has books and exhibits = can we see something else por favor?

The research was WoW but not sure that I really wanted to know that much about Margots mom. I wanted to know more about the end of her career and her life - dying penniless on a friends couch. And that Mr. Quiroz both a hero and a leech - saving her molds then capitalizing on them.

I look foward to a book on Matl, Carmen, Victoria, Brenda, Agnes, Any woman who lived and worked in any male dominated industry (esp in Mex) is more than ok in my book....
Send me your book reviews on Margot - - - Tia
Oh yeah here is a repost of some of my authentic vintage Margot - no 950 fake remakes

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.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


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