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Description:
¡Muy grandioso! … This imposing, early vintage, handwrought silver brooch is the work of Taxco master Rafael Melendez, who began his career working with William Spratling at Taller de las Delicias in 1932 and went on to establish his own taller, Plateria Melendez, in 1939. Boldly designed and beautifully detailed, the brooch was inspired by clay seals known as sellos, which were prevalent in the Mesoamerican pre-Columbian era, through post-Conquest until 1600 A.D. These seals depicted anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, floral, and geometric designs, and were thought to be used to decorate fabric, as well as the human body. Here, a rising eagle motif has been used, with beak pointing to the sky and feathered wings stylistically spread out in a circle—magnificently executed with cutwork and hand tooling. The exaggerated “eye” is composed of a large, green-blue turquoise cabochon, whose silver bezel is enhanced by a twisted silver wire border, surmounted to the body of the piece. The pinback is fitted with an old-style C-clasp.
Hallmarks: 980 {in intaglio}; RM {conjoined}; TAXCO. 980 silver is commonly used in many Rafael Melendez pieces and this particular hallmark—featured in Bille Hougart’s The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks—dates the piece as far back as 1942. Dimensions: 2-5/8” in diameter. The turquoise cabochon measures approximately 5/8” across. Weight: 32.8 grams. Condition: Excellent vintage condition, definitely collector quality.
| Status: For Sale |
Reference#: GA077 |
| Condition:
See description |
Year:
See description
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| Country:
Mexico |
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