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.
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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.

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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