We have similar Taxco and Retro items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Taxco" or "Retro" under our Buy-It-Now items.
Listing description by: Angela A.
The Piece
Markings: "HA" in a circular cartouche, framed by "Taller Borda" and "Taxco Mexico" on the back of the brooch, tested, and guaranteed
Main Stone: --
Main Stone Measurements/Color: --
Accent Stone: --
Accent Stone Measurements/Color: --
Stone Treatment: --
Stone Cuts: --
Item Measurements:
- Length: 1.97"
- Width: 1.96"
Notable Features: - Handmade in the Retro period by Hector Aguilar, a talented Taxco silversmith who worked under William Spratling and started his own workshop in 1939
- Composed of copper
- Features the motif of a flower with curving petals
- The center of the flower contains a domed motif, created using the repousse metalworking technique
- Completed with a pin stem and a locking "c" clasp that allows the brooch to be worn on a variety of clothing and accessories
Damage: Age appropriate wear. There are several tiny scratches to the center dome motif, which does not affect wear. The price 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
Retro jewelry was produced during the 1940s and 1950s and was representative of the bold and changing world that emerged from the Second World War. Retro jewelry is not only illustrative of the energetic and modernizing styles of the 40s and 50s, but it incorporated the elegance and luxury of jewelry styles past. Retro jewelry can frequently be found composed of bright gold, gold alloys, and silver as the wartime put a restriction on the use of platinum. These designs are vibrant and beautiful and are a gorgeous example of the style of the rapidly evolving world.
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.
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.
