Antique Vintage Deco Mid Century Sterling Silver Mexican TAXCO Bakelite Earrings

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: Dylan L.
The Piece
Age Circa
:
Mid Century C. 1935 - 1965
Markings
: Marked "SILVER MEXICO" on the back of the earrings, Tested, and Guaranteed.
Country of Origin
: Mexico
Brand
: Taxco
Gram Weight
: 8.5 Grams
Metal Type
: .925 Sterling Silver
Material
: --
Main Stone
: Black Bakelite
Main Stone Measurements/Color
: Measures 12.6 mm long by 3.8 mm wide, Opaque black hue
Accent Stone
: --
Accent Stone Measurements/Color
: --
Stone Treatment:
Bakelite is a manufactured stone. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.
Stone Cuts
: Carved and Polished Inlaid Oval Bakelite
Item Measurements
: The earrings measure 0.82" long measured from the tops of the earrings to the bottoms of the earrings by 0.77" wide.
Earring Style
: Cluster Earrings
Earring Backing Style
: Screw-Back Backings. Your jeweler can easily convert these to the preferred backing style you desire.
For Pierced or Non-Pierced Ears
: Both
Notable Features
:
The focal point of these earrings are the Bakelite stones, which are surrounded and adorned by sterling silver accents.
There is a band of silver across the center of the bakelite stone. Surrounding the base of the bezel setting is a rope twist accent.
There are hand hammered spheres adorning the earrings, which were made using the repousse technique.
The repousse technique dates back as far as the 3rd century BC and involves hand hammering precious metals into beautiful and intricate patterns.
Damage
: Age appropriate wear. The sterling silver is ever so slightly tarnished in some areas, which adds to the character of the item. The price of this item has been reduced to reflect this.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
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.
Bakelite is the first plastic made from synthetic components, and was developed by chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907. It was used to make a diverse range of products in a variety of jewel quality colors, and the retro appeal has made Bakelite jewelry quite valuable as a collectible item.
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:
All items ship within one business day of receiving payment. Buyers will have 3 base shipping options to choose from, depending on the needed speed of delivery. Pricing on single and multi-purchase transactions can be seen below:
Auction Items:
Base shipping + .00 per additional gold item & BIN items combine for free
BIN Items:
FREE
Base Shipping:
USPS
First Class
: .00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
USPS
Priority Mail
: .00 fully insured, estimated 2-3 business days
USPS
Priority Express
: .00 fully insured, overnight delivery
International
: All packages are sent via USPS and pricing is based on buyer location. Each customer will receive a revised invoice at the close of the auction with an updated shipping rate. We will combine shipping on multiple purchases for free.
We do not undervalue packages for customs, please do not ask us to do so. What you pay is what we will claim on your customs form.
Please take this into consideration before placing your bid.
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