Antique Vintage Mid Century 925 Sterling Silver Brass TAXCO Puffy Earrings 9.2g

Description

We have similar Mid Century and Taxco items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Mid Century" or "Taxco" under our Buy-It-Now items.
Listing Description by: Angela A.
The Piece
Age Circa
:
Mid Century c. 1935 - 1955
Markings
: "Mexico 925" and unidentified maker's mark "TE-39" on a tag on one earring
, tested, and guaranteed
Country of Origin
: Mexico
Brand
: Taxco
Gram Weight
: 9.2 grams
Metal Type
: .925 sterling silver with a brass accent
Material
: --
Main Stone
: --
Main Stone Measurements/Color
: --
Accent Stone
: --
Accent Stone Measurements/Color
: --
Stone Treatment:
--
Stone Cuts
: --
Item Measurements
:
Length:
1.68" (including backings)
Width:
0.47"
Earring Style
: Dangle
Earring Backing Style
: Shepherd's crook backings
For Pierced or Non-Pierced Ears
: Pierced
Notable Features
:
Handmade during the Mid Century era by a talented Mexican artisan in Taxco
Composed of .925 sterling silver with brass accents
Each earring features two puffy, round large sterling silver beads, which are rare, hollow pieces of puffy jewelry
These beads were created using the repousse metalworking technique
A round brass accent disk separates the two beads for geometric style
The earrings dangle from shepherd's crook backings for wear with pierced ears
Damage
: Age appropriate wear. There is some tarnish present on the sterling silver, giving the earrings a lovely antique quality.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
The Art Deco era is famous for being the "Gatsby" or "Roaring Twenties" era. A lot of gorgeous and timeless designs in jewelry came out of this period. Jewelry from this period was most often crafted between 1920 and 1940. Art Deco jewelry sometimes featured white gold or platinum, geometric designs, European cut diamonds, filigree, and calibre cut stones that are specially cut to fit the design of the piece. During the Art Deco period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would usually take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.
The Mid-Century era, 1935 to 1965, encompassed many new styles of art and architecture and this carried over to jewelry making. This exciting time for jewelry saw movements such as Hollywood Regency, Modernism, Brutalism, and the Atomic Age. Native American artisans were also making their mark in the jewelry industry. Artisans used many kinds of metals, gemstones, glass, and experimented with ceramic and wood as well. This era was filled with new and innovative designs, while also rejuvenating and reinventing older styles. The unique jewelry which emerged from this era is still very popular today.
Taxco, Mexico is famous for producing the finest sterling silver jewelry in the world. Taxco has a rich history of silver-making, with the Aztecs being the first to mine and craft sterling silver for adornment and ceremony. In the 1920s, an American artist named William Spratling moved to Taxco. Being inspired by pre-Columbian and Aztec art, Spratling built a successful jewelry business. Many local aspiring artisans started apprenticing under him, and he eventually developed an apprenticeship program, with many famous silversmiths having learned there. The Taxco tradition of silversmithing is still carried on by the local artisan community today.
Puffy jewelry is a name given to hollow repousse pieces, typically little heart charms. Puffy hearts came into fashion in the late 1800s and were popular until the 1950s. Today, puffy jewelry is highly sought after, but very rare to find because they were difficult to make in the first place and were easily damaged due to their hollow cores.
Repoussé began as an ancient metalworking technique dating as far back as the 3rd century BC, involving malleable metal that was hammered onto the reverse side to create an image on the front. Examples are found all over the world; Greece, Egypt, and even the Hopewell periods in the American southeast. Reverse side hammering was also used to add detail to the front, creating intricate patterns using grooves, indentations, and channeling. The piece was then carefully polished to create a hollow, eye-catching treasure.
Domestic US:
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