It’s not often that the Antiques Roadshow “veil” is lifted, but recently Current.org published a must-read story that gives us a glimpse of the relationship between the appraisers and the show’s producing station, WBGH.  Read Conflicting appraisals: Minutes on Roadshow are pay enough for some here.

Here are the links (each one opens in a new window) to vintage Taxco silver jewelry appraisals on Antiques Roadshow:

Margot de Taxco Jewelry, ca. 1955

Taxco Silver Necklace & Bracelet, ca. 1950

And check out this link to a collection of 20th-Century Antonio Pineda Gold Jewelry that one lucky lady inherited from her parents, who were friends of Pineda’s.

Behind the scenes at Antiques Roadshow, and some vintage Taxco silver jewelry appraisals originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on January 27, 2012. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

Top trends in antiques and collectibles originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on January 24, 2012. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

This week Heritage Auctions, a prominent brokerage for movie memorabilia, suddenly pulled its offer of a silver belt buckle with a gold inlay of the Red River brand, just as the bidding reached $17,000. It was one of a handful of buckles commissioned in 1946, when the film was shot, as gifts by its director, Howard Hawks.

A Heritage representative called the buckle’s owner, Mara Alexandru, who had been given it by her father, Norman Cook, the production manager on “Red River.” The representative told her it had vanished — the same fate that had befallen at least two of the other “Red River” buckles over the years.

Heritage Auctions is, of course, an established auction house with an excellent reputation, but like any organization, it is made up of people, and we humans do make mistakes.

The lessons: deal only with reputable auction houses, be sure they have insurance to cover loss, document your item before handing it over, and get a receipt for that item.

You can read the complete article here. Take a look at the listing (Lot 46029, now marked “Lot Passed”) at Live Auctioneers here.

The mysterious case of the disappearing Howard Hawks silver belt buckle originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on December 15, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

Margot Van Voorhies: The Art of Mexican Enamelwork
Margot Van Voorhies was an American in the mid-twentieth century who went to Taxco, Mexico, and established a jewelry design business best known for exquisite enamel work. This fascinating book relates the pains of her childhood and eventual refuge in Mexico, where she developed an artistic talent into the Margot de Taxco workshop, that employed hundreds of artisans, particularly including women. Her associations with Taxco silversmiths, who were taught by innovator William Spratling, became the springboard for her own development and success. Margot’s designs are distinctive, often based on spiral motifs inspired by vines and floral imagery. Glorious colored enamels in brilliant hues and original designs distinguish her work. Today, Margot Van Voorhies is considered one of the most productive silver artists in Taxco of the mid-20th century. Her legacy is featured here also, in the work of four contemporary artists who strive to create equally superior modern silver jewelry in Taxco.

The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks
The 2006 new and revised 2nd edition of the bestselling reference guide to identifying Mexican silver: Loaded with images and graphics of over 1500 marks of silver makers, designers, manufacturers and silver houses in Taxco and throughout Mexico. Eagle numbers from 1 through eagle 219. The book includes all the great ones, including William Spratling, Hector Aguilar, Los Castillo, Antonio Pineda, Sigi, Maricela, Salvador, Valentn Vidaurreta, Victoria, Fred Davis, Artemio Navarrete, Emma Melendez, Bernice Goodspeed, Maciel, Matl, Tane, Hubert Harmon, Chato, Margot and many, many others. The book is cross-referenced and indexed for quick and handy searches. The new edition reveals identities of many mystery marks and includes examples of marks not previously published. Special sections describing fake marks are included for prominent designers.

Mexican Silver: Modern Handwrought Jewelry & Metalwork
With a new section of makers marks and new photographs, here is the powerful story of the silver renaissance in Mexico from the 1920s to the present. The wealth of color photos showcases the incomparable beauty of jewelry, tableware, and art works in silver. Extensive research sheds new light on the life and art of William Spratling, Margot van Voorhies, Fred Davis, and Hubert Harmon, and on the artisans who worked for them, making this book the definitive study of Mexican silver jewelry and decorative objects.

Silver Seduction: The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda
Antonio Pineda (b. 1919) is renowned for translating design elements evocative of Mexico’s past into often-astounding modernist silver jewelry, sculpture, and tableware. Perhaps more than any of his talented counterparts, he has been able to abstract and refine, producing elegant, spare, and geometric works that evidence a profound respect for the wearer. Pineda was also instrumental in the formation of the Taxco School of silver design. The over two hundred remarkable Pineda objects illustrated in this volume reflect the artist’s intense imagination and quest for technical perfection. While focusing on Pineda’s art from the 1930s through the 1970s, author Gobi Stromberg also places his career and the development of the Taxco School in context. She considers how a particular set of historical, political, cultural, social, and economic factors facilitated meetings between Mexican and American artists, intellectuals, writers, Hollywood stars, and musicians; spawned the building of roads opening up remote Mexican villages to a growing influx of U.S. tourists and expatriates of every stripe; encouraged a focus upon Mexico’s glorious Pre-Columbian heritage and the legacy of its indigenous peoples; and promoted the development of a unique system of production in the workshops of Taxco that made innovation and experimentation paramount. Stromberg and contributing essayist Ana Elena Mallet have in fact managed to untangle and address the multiple strands of influence that together resulted in an unprecedented period in silver design and execution, Taxco’s Silver Age.

William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance: Maestros de Plata
William Spratling revolutionized silver jewellery design in Mexico. Arriving in Taxco in 1929, by 1940 he had over 100 silversmiths producing his enormously popular silver creations. Important figures of the North American literary and art establishment, among them John dos Passos, William Faulkner and Georgia O’Keeffe, purchased his designs and sang his praises. Out of Spratling’s workshop emerged many of Mexico’s finest silver designers, including Hector Aguilar, Antonio Castillo and his brothers Jorge and Justo, Salvador Teran and Antonio Pineda. Their stiking jewellery and hollow-ware in silver – often set with precious stones and pre-Columbian artefacts – are prized collectibles.

Cherished books make great gifts from the heart! Get $2 off $20 when you buy books, music, movies or video games at www.alibris.com and use the code ILOVEBOOKS at checkout. This code expires December 31, 2011.

Great gifts for collectors of vintage Mexican or 20th century silver originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on December 11, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

Included are more than 130 works by 93 artists from 25 countries. The exhibit focuses on three themes: addressing the region’s past through work completed in the last half of the twentieth century, investigating the fusion of ethnic influences in the area, and delving into the continent’s ever-changing socio-political issues.

Artists such as Enrique Ledesma and William Spratling are among those who exemplify the work that helped shape the path of contemporary jewelry in Latin America and served as inspiration to later generations of jewelry artists.

The oldest piece on display is “Croissant” (1940), a silver necklace with a large rosewood pendant by William Spratling, who is credited with reviving the ancient silver craft in the Mexican mining town of Taxco. Spratling inspired generations of Mexican jewelers to create jewelry in non-European forms with a well-defined national identity. In contrast are the more contemporary pieces such as “Collar para el Coleccionista” (2009) by Costa Rican artist Julieta Odio.

The exhibit runs through October 16 at Bellevue Arts Museum. For information: (425) 519-0770 or www.bellevuearts.org.

Exhibit examines Latin American jewelry past and present originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on July 9, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

During World War 2, metals were in very short supply in the U.S.A. Because silver was available in Mexico, a number of American jewelry companies worked with Mexican silversmiths to produce their jewelry. Coro, a New York firm and for many years the world’s largest manufacturer of fashion and costume jewelry, was one of them. For about seven years, beginning in 1943, Coro had a contract with Hector Aguilar to design and produce jewelry.

If you’re not familiar with vintage Coro jewelry made in Mexico, here are a few resources where you can learn more:

The Story of Coro
Coro images – unpatented designs
Coro ads and jewelry photographs
Coro Costume Jewelry
RCJ Jewelry Marks – Coro

Here is some of the vintage Mexican Coro jewelry currently offered for sale on eBay:

Vintage Sterling CORO Mexico? Lapis? w/ Gold Fleck Screwback Earrings US $49.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-12-2012 17:17:18 PST   | Watch this Item

Nice LOT Vintage-Costume-Estate Jewelry RHINETONES-Coro-Trifari-Alpaca Mexico &+ US $9.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Monday Feb-13-2012 17:02:42 PST   | Watch this Item

Vtg CORO Sterling Mexico 4 Leaf Clover Pin Brooch Beautiful Rose Gold Wash Heavy US $55.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 19:50:43 PST   | Watch this Item

VTG LARGE STERLING SILVER CORO MEXICO CALLA LILY PIN US $100.00 Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-18-2012 16:32:28 PST   | Watch this Item

Coro Made in Mexico Silver Two Flowers Pin US $75.00 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-19-2012 17:47:28 PST   | Watch this Item

Vintage Coro jewelry from Mexico originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on June 29, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

SilverForum
Modernist Jewelry 1930-1960 by Marbeth Schon
Form & Function by Marbeth Schon
Modern Silver
Antique Jewelry University
RetroStart

Take a peek at some of the vintage modern Mexican silver on eBay:

Vintage Mexican silver for the modernist collector originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on June 25, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

Silver Masters of Mexico – book sale ends soon! originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on May 16, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

"Silver Shops on the Plaza Borda in Taxco, Mexico." Discovering Collection. Web. 16 Apr. 2011

Most collectors like to get their hands on information about their chosen collectible field – and usually, the more the better. I’m always on the prowl for whatever information I can find so I can share it with others. The latest find is Taxco–City of Silver by Cynthia Unninayar, an article with photos published in JQ 2 (March-April 2006): 40(5) and obtained from General OneFile. Gale. Copyright: 2006 Adams Business Media.

If you’ve been collecting for a while, the information in this article will be familiar, but you may not have seen all of the silver jewelry; the photographs include jewelry by William Spratling,  Antonio Pineda, Margot van Voorhies Carr, Los Castillo, Victoria de Taxco, and Los Balesteros. You can read the article and look at the photographs, or even download it if you like, by clicking here.

Taxco silver history: another article – with photos – for your library originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on April 17, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This

A good deal of information about the best-known artisans and tallers that helped create the 20th century renaissance in Mexico silver is available, but details about Maya Mexico have been few and far between. That information gap has shrunken considerably with the recent publication of Maya Mexico Jewelry, an informational guidebook by Sandy Hargrove. The well-researched book, with full color photos, takes a look at what is known about Maya Mexico’s activities in Mexico City and Taxco, the symbols used in the jewelry, and Maya Mexico’s designs and hallmarks. It is a must-have for anyone interested in Maya jewelry and for those who seek to learn everything they can about twentieth century Mexican jewelry.

Be sure take a look at Hargrove’s website too – it includes a Summary of Maya Mexico Hallmarks and other information about Maya Mexico.

If you’re looking for Maya Mexico vintage jewelry or would simply like to see what it’s like, you’ll find a variety of pieces offered at auction and fixed price on eBay. Here are some of them:

MAYA MEXICO VINTAGE BOLD MODERNIST COPPER & BRASS NECKLACE US $275.00 Auction Ends: Friday Feb-10-2012 15:54:33 PST   | Watch this Item

VTG CASA MAYA MEXICO BRASS COPPER ENAMEL WILD LONG NECKLACE BRACELET SET 15649 US $225.00 Auction Ends: Sunday Feb-12-2012 12:11:30 PST   | Watch this Item

VINTAGE MEXICO MEXICAN COPPER BRASS NECKLACE TRIBAL AZTEC MAYA HANDCRAFTED 50's US $42.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 10:35:44 PST   | Watch this Item

Copper Earrings MAYA Mexico Vintage Screw On Figures US $50.00 Auction Ends: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 19:14:05 PST   | Watch this Item

Vintage 50s 60s MAYA Mexico LITTLE MAN Copper EARRINGS US $106.24 Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-25-2012 19:13:06 PST   | Watch this Item

MAYA MEXICO VINTAGE COPPER & BRASS TRIBAL FACE PIN PENDANT NECKLACE US $245.00 Auction Ends: Monday Feb-27-2012 11:53:18 PST   | Watch this Item

MAYA MEXICO VINTAGE COPPER BRASS RAISED DRAGON COLLAR NECKLACE US $275.00 Auction Ends: Thursday Mar-01-2012 17:27:31 PST   | Watch this Item

HUGE Vintage 1950s Modern MAYA Mexico Copper Brass Cuff BRACELET Hubert Harmon US $424.99 Auction Ends: Friday Mar-02-2012 5:31:39 PST   | Watch this Item

See larger image MAYA MEXICO JEWELRY (Paperback) By (author) Sandy Hargrove List Price: $48.70 USD New From: $38.22 In Stock

What do you know about vintage Maya Mexico jewelry? originally appeared on Vintage Mexican Silver on April 6, 2011. Turn to Vintage Mexican Silver for the latest news about auctions and dealers in vintage Mexican silver jewelry and silverware, including mid-century modern and modernist design, William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, Sigi and Antonio Pineda, Matl, Hector Aguilar, and other famous Mexican silver designers.Tweet This