vintage Mexican silver Pluma Azteca butterfly Pendant
A demanding, difficult to execute technique "Pluma Azteca" uses vividly colored bird feathers as inlay that is carefully placed in a design been previously cut out in silver. Once in place, the feathers are either sealed on the back with silver and left open in the front; secured in transparent resin back and front, or protected with silver in the back and resin in the front. Pieces made following the first path - many of the Los Castillo "pluma" jewelry was made in that way - are hard to find. The feathers did not survive the trials of time and when they do, they usually show their age in their faded colors and frayed or missing feathers. So you understand my excitement at being able to offer this big and beautifully colored pendant that shows minimal wear, if at all, and holds the eye captive as soon as the gaze meets it. Not signed for maker it is nonetheless masterfully crafted, its butterfly motif rendered in deep, rich purple with red accents, its body "spelled out" in yellow. The feathers have here been protected on both sides with resin and when you hold the pendant against the light (as I have done in a couple of photos to show you), it mimics the look of plique-a-jour enamel...
PS: The chain in some of the photos is a prop and not included with the pendant.
Size / Weight: 2 3/8" long (without the bail) by 1 9/16" wide; with the bail it will add a 2 5/8" drop to your chain; 21.0 grams
Hallmarks / Date: "STERLING MEXICO TAXCO"; ca 1950
Condition: excellent vintage with the feathers intact in their resin casing, their colors vibrantly rich, the silver-work having nice patina, with no damage and no repairs noted
Inv# 15347
A demanding, difficult to execute technique "Pluma Azteca" uses vividly colored bird feathers as inlay that is carefully placed in a design been previously cut out in silver. Once in place, the feathers are either sealed on the back with silver and left open in the front; secured in transparent resin back and front, or protected with silver in the back and resin in the front. Pieces made following the first path - many of the Los Castillo "pluma" jewelry was made in that way - are hard to find. The feathers did not survive the trials of time and when they do, they usually show their age in their faded colors and frayed or missing feathers. So you understand my excitement at being able to offer this big and beautifully colored pendant that shows minimal wear, if at all, and holds the eye captive as soon as the gaze meets it. Not signed for maker it is nonetheless masterfully crafted, its butterfly motif rendered in deep, rich purple with red accents, its body "spelled out" in yellow. The feathers have here been protected on both sides with resin and when you hold the pendant against the light (as I have done in a couple of photos to show you), it mimics the look of plique-a-jour enamel...
PS: The chain in some of the photos is a prop and not included with the pendant.
Size / Weight: 2 3/8" long (without the bail) by 1 9/16" wide; with the bail it will add a 2 5/8" drop to your chain; 21.0 grams
Hallmarks / Date: "STERLING MEXICO TAXCO"; ca 1950
Condition: excellent vintage with the feathers intact in their resin casing, their colors vibrantly rich, the silver-work having nice patina, with no damage and no repairs noted
Inv# 15347
A demanding, difficult to execute technique "Pluma Azteca" uses vividly colored bird feathers as inlay that is carefully placed in a design been previously cut out in silver. Once in place, the feathers are either sealed on the back with silver and left open in the front; secured in transparent resin back and front, or protected with silver in the back and resin in the front. Pieces made following the first path - many of the Los Castillo "pluma" jewelry was made in that way - are hard to find. The feathers did not survive the trials of time and when they do, they usually show their age in their faded colors and frayed or missing feathers. So you understand my excitement at being able to offer this big and beautifully colored pendant that shows minimal wear, if at all, and holds the eye captive as soon as the gaze meets it. Not signed for maker it is nonetheless masterfully crafted, its butterfly motif rendered in deep, rich purple with red accents, its body "spelled out" in yellow. The feathers have here been protected on both sides with resin and when you hold the pendant against the light (as I have done in a couple of photos to show you), it mimics the look of plique-a-jour enamel...
PS: The chain in some of the photos is a prop and not included with the pendant.
Size / Weight: 2 3/8" long (without the bail) by 1 9/16" wide; with the bail it will add a 2 5/8" drop to your chain; 21.0 grams
Hallmarks / Date: "STERLING MEXICO TAXCO"; ca 1950
Condition: excellent vintage with the feathers intact in their resin casing, their colors vibrantly rich, the silver-work having nice patina, with no damage and no repairs noted
Inv# 15347