“Glitter of the Gods”

Although I’m a big fan of magazines and newsletters about antiques and collectibles, my budget doesn’t permit me to subscribe to all of them. So every once in a while I head over to my local public library to see if any of their periodicals contain articles of interest. I found a good one a few days ago.

The July 2009 issue of Antiques & Collecting magazine has a piece by Donald-Brian Johnson, with photography and research by Leslie Pina (these two have collaborated on a number of books of interest to collectors). Called “Mexican Silver Jewelry: Glitter of the Gods,” the article offers a good look at why Mexican silver jewelry has been so appealing and interesting to collectors. Unfortunately the magazine’s web site does not have the article online – what a drag! I’d love to give you a link to it.  If you don’t subscribe to the magazine, perhaps your library has it.

The author divides Mexican silver jewelry into three design periods:  the era before the conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, the colonial period up to the beginning of the 20th century, and the period from the 1930s through the 1970s. (It was during this last period that the most popular and collectible pieces of Mexican silver jewelry and metalware were created.) Accompanying the article are photographs of a dizzying assortment of silver and mixed metal pieces.

Of course, you can skip the article and read Pina’s two excellent books, which I wrote about in my recent post here.