Fish bones, enamel fish, and other fishy variations in vintage Mexican silver jewelry

The sexual symbolism of fish is almost universal – linked with their prolific spawn, the fertility symbolism of water, and analogies of the fish with the penis. They are associated with lunar and mother goddesses and birth.
- The Complete Dictionary of Symbols By Jack Tresidder

In Christianity, the fish symbolizes abundance and faith. For the ancient Aztecs, fish symbolized instinct and determination. In fact, when the great flood was sent to destroy the sun and the earth at the end of the Aztecs’ Fourth Age, human beings were turned into fish.

Coat of arms Baja California Sur

With such influences, it’s not surprising that the fish motif appears fairly regularly in Mexican jewelry. Sometimes they are in skeleton form (dangling “fish bones” earrings, for example), while others are in their “live” form done in repousse, enamel, or mixed metals (metales casados).  Designs vary quite a bit – you’re just as likely to find a pre-Columbian fish symbol as you are a modernist design byEnrique Ledesma or Antonio Pineda.

The great silver maestros of the 20th century produced some exceptionally interesting pieces, but it’s not necessary to break the bank to find nice quality pieces incorporating fish in the design. Lesser-known and unknown artisans produced some beauties.