long Mexican Deco silver and dragon's breath Dangle Earrings
Often - and mistakenly - identified as opal, dragon’s breath is in fact art glass (usually Czech) to which molten metals are added in order to create that magical look of a stone with fiery depths. Dragon’s breath cabs were sometimes used in vintage Mexican silver jewelry, especially in the pre-1948 period, for their ability to help create eye-catching pieces while keeping the price affordable for a wider audience. The pair of sterling silver dangle earrings at hand is a great example. Intricate, beautifully finished silver-work with beading and tiny little “cascabeles” develop around cabs that send out metallic green, orange and blue sparkles. Impressive, don’t you think?
Size / Weight: 2 1/2” long by 1 1/16” wide; 15.6 grams (for the set)
Hallmarks / Date: “SILVER MEXICO”; pre-1948
Condition: excellent vintage with fun, playful sparkle in the glass cabs, generously long and quite intricate, with no damage and no repairs noted
Inv# 16036
Often - and mistakenly - identified as opal, dragon’s breath is in fact art glass (usually Czech) to which molten metals are added in order to create that magical look of a stone with fiery depths. Dragon’s breath cabs were sometimes used in vintage Mexican silver jewelry, especially in the pre-1948 period, for their ability to help create eye-catching pieces while keeping the price affordable for a wider audience. The pair of sterling silver dangle earrings at hand is a great example. Intricate, beautifully finished silver-work with beading and tiny little “cascabeles” develop around cabs that send out metallic green, orange and blue sparkles. Impressive, don’t you think?
Size / Weight: 2 1/2” long by 1 1/16” wide; 15.6 grams (for the set)
Hallmarks / Date: “SILVER MEXICO”; pre-1948
Condition: excellent vintage with fun, playful sparkle in the glass cabs, generously long and quite intricate, with no damage and no repairs noted
Inv# 16036
Often - and mistakenly - identified as opal, dragon’s breath is in fact art glass (usually Czech) to which molten metals are added in order to create that magical look of a stone with fiery depths. Dragon’s breath cabs were sometimes used in vintage Mexican silver jewelry, especially in the pre-1948 period, for their ability to help create eye-catching pieces while keeping the price affordable for a wider audience. The pair of sterling silver dangle earrings at hand is a great example. Intricate, beautifully finished silver-work with beading and tiny little “cascabeles” develop around cabs that send out metallic green, orange and blue sparkles. Impressive, don’t you think?
Size / Weight: 2 1/2” long by 1 1/16” wide; 15.6 grams (for the set)
Hallmarks / Date: “SILVER MEXICO”; pre-1948
Condition: excellent vintage with fun, playful sparkle in the glass cabs, generously long and quite intricate, with no damage and no repairs noted
Inv# 16036