www.925-1000.com

I picked this up today, but cannot make out all of the markings on the back. I'd like to know approximate age of this piece. I hope someone has the answers.

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Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Please embed your images and we'll do all we can to help.

Trev.

This may help with intaglio versus incuse 940 Mexican silver marks: http://www.925-1000.com/mexican_marks.html
May be my eyes, but this looks incuse to me. Taxco mark is clear enough. Maker seems to read AV...unfortunately there are a lot of Antonio and Vargas names in Mexico (like John Smith). Hopefully one of the specialist in these makers will see your post soon. Good luck.

I read that, but wasn't sure if I had it right. I reread it. It was thought that this might be Edwardian due to the shape. Apparently bar brooches like this were common then. But, according to that page you sent, the mark is from the 30s and 40s. Seeing how it is a c clasp, which was used mostly before the 40s, I'm going to assume that this brooch is 30s. This would fall in line with the rest of the jewelry I found in the bag. It was mostly cheap costume jewelry from the 20s and 30s. Does this sound about right?

I think I solved my mystery. I found a similar brooch on eBay with the exact markings. It is saying it's 1930s and crediting it to Artemio Navarrete. Here's what the description says:

Artemio Navarrete was a talented silversmith from Iguala who moved to Taxco to assist William Spratling in opening his Taller de Las Delicias. He taught and supervised many of the artists in the workshop, many who went on to their own successful careers.

Spratling's influence can be seen in many of Navarrete's designs.

A .940 silver bar pin with his AN hallmark is available.


Here's the a picture of the eBay brooch.

Unfortunately, I believe that eBay listing to be in error. This piece is not by Artemio Navarete. That hallmark is a conjoined "A" and "V" and belongs to Alfredo Villasana. Works by him are of equal historical significance.

I’m aware it’s been a few years but DVD007, Desiraek is correct. This piece WAS made by Artemio Navarrette, NOT Alfredo Villasana. See Page 126 of Bille Hougart’s ‘The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks’.