Looking for Matl, found Gerardo Lopez instead
Earlier this week I saw an Antiques Roadshow appraisal of a small lot of vintage jewelry by Senorita Matilde Eugenia Poulat, who signed her work “Matl.” I wanted to see the appraisal again and thought it would show up in the Roadshow archives, but no luck!
However, while searching for the Matl jewelry, I came across an appraisal I hadn’t seen before: Taxco Silver Necklace & Bracelet, ca. 1950 Appraised Value:$1,500 – $2,000. The episode is from 2004, so I think it’s likely that the value would be higher if an appraisal were done now. The owner paid just $3.00 total for the two pieces – talk about a return on investment!
The appraiser says that the jewelry is by Lopez, but doesn’t provide the first name. It’s hard to see the marks in the video, but I think these pieces must have been created by Gerardo Lopez (not the only Lopez who made silver jewelry). As noted in The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks By Bille Hougart, Lopez was a maestro silversmith in Taxco who worked primarily in silver. I’ve read that Lopez and his shop were highly regarded, and the Lopez jewelry I’ve seen is excellent.
As I write, just three lovelyLopez jewelry creations are offered for sale on eBay. Click on a link if you want to learn more about them.
Vintage Lopez Taxco silver necklace
Vintage Lopez Taxco sterling silver earrings
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