Antique Vintage Mid Century Sterling Silver Mexican TAXCO Cluster Earrings 21.1g

  
We have similar Mid Century and Gold wash items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Listing Description by: Megan E.

Markings : "925 T5-74 Mexico" and an indecipherable partial stamp "Latom" on the backside of each earring, tested, and guaranteed. Gram Weight : 21.1 grams. 925 sterling silver, gold wash over 925 sterling silver. Depth : 0.63 (including backing). Earring Backing Style : Post without butterfly backings.

Your jeweler can easily convert these to the preferred backing style you desire. For Pierced or Non-Pierced Ears : Pierced.

Handmade in the Mid Century era by a talented Taxco silversmith in Mexico. Each earring features three geometric'puffy' pieces, each attached to another securely with sterling silver loops. Different geometric shapes included are: half triangle, a circle with swirls, and two small squares in the center. Squares in the center of the long cluster earrings feature a gold wash over the 925 sterling silver. Earrings are fairly long at 3.09 in length and slightly heavy at 21.1 grams. Curved and puffy shape was created using the repousse metalworking technique to hand-hammer the sterling silver. Completed with posts and may require butterfly backings for wear on pierced ears. Tarnish is present in a few places on these earrings. These earrings may require butterfly backings to be worn securely. The price has been reduced to reflect this.

This listing is for the item only. The Mid-Century era, 1935 to 1965, encompassed many new styles of art and architecture and this carried over to jewelry making. This exciting time for jewelry saw movements such as Hollywood Regency, Modernism, Brutalism, and the Atomic Age. Native American artisans were also making their mark in the jewelry industry.

Artisans used many kinds of metals, gemstones, glass, and experimented with ceramic and wood as well. This era was filled with new and innovative designs, while also rejuvenating and reinventing older styles.

The unique jewelry which emerged from this era is still very popular today. Taxco, Mexico is famous for producing the finest sterling silver jewelry in the world.

Taxco has a rich history of silver-making, with the Aztecs being the first to mine and craft sterling silver for adornment and ceremony. In the 1920s, an American artist named William Spratling moved to Taxco. Being inspired by pre-Columbian and Aztec art, Spratling built a successful jewelry business. Many local aspiring artisans started apprenticing under him, and he eventually developed an apprenticeship program, with many famous silversmiths having learned there. The Taxco tradition of silversmithing is still carried on by the local artisan community today.

Puffy jewelry is a name given to hollow repousse pieces, typically little heart charms. Puffy hearts came into fashion in the late 1800s and were popular until the 1950s. Today, puffy jewelry is highly sought after, but very rare to find because they were difficult to make in the first place and were easily damaged due to their hollow cores. Repoussé began as an ancient metalworking technique dating as far back as the 3rd century BC, involving malleable metal that was hammered onto the reverse side to create an image on the front. Examples are found all over the world; Greece, Egypt, and even the Hopewell periods in the American southeast. Reverse side hammering was also used to add detail to the front, creating intricate patterns using grooves, indentations, and channeling.

The piece was then carefully polished to create a hollow, eye-catching treasure. The item "Antique Vintage Mid Century Sterling Silver Mexican TAXCO Cluster Earrings 21.1g" is in sale since Saturday, December 12, 2020. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Fine\Art Nouveau/Art Deco 1895-1935\Earrings". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: Mexico
• Style: Cluster
• Ethnic Origin: Mexican
• Metal #2: Gold wash
• Metal Purity: .925
• Main Stone: No Stone
• Brand: Taxco
• Metal: Sterling Silver