A. Tobias Mexican Deco silver and stone "portrait" Brooch
"Mask" jewelry is not a rarity in the world of vintage Mexican silver yet the portrayals are almost always of ancient, Mesoamerican faces. And even though I am a very big fan of them as long as both the carving and the setting is interesting, I am thrilled to be presenting here a big brooch by A. Tobias housing the portrait of a more "contemporary" man. There is something in this "mask" that screams "Roman" to me and I know the typology might not even justify it but that was my initial reaction to the piece. Mexico City-based maestro Tobias is one of the early contributors to Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance whose work can go either in the way of the classic Matl-style repousse or follow the older, Spanish Colonial tradition. I would suggest that the "portrait's" silver frame with its curlicue wire-work appliques and the tiny beading represents the latter and I am thrilled to have come upon such an unexpected treasure...
Size / Weight: 2 3/4" tall by 2" wide; 41.5 grams
Hallmarks / Date: fully marked as shown; 1930s-40s
Condition: excellent vintage with strong, saturated dark green color in the stone, great patina and no damage or repairs noted - a very unusual, quite difficult to find, example of Mexican Deco "mask" jewelry
Inv# 15901
"Mask" jewelry is not a rarity in the world of vintage Mexican silver yet the portrayals are almost always of ancient, Mesoamerican faces. And even though I am a very big fan of them as long as both the carving and the setting is interesting, I am thrilled to be presenting here a big brooch by A. Tobias housing the portrait of a more "contemporary" man. There is something in this "mask" that screams "Roman" to me and I know the typology might not even justify it but that was my initial reaction to the piece. Mexico City-based maestro Tobias is one of the early contributors to Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance whose work can go either in the way of the classic Matl-style repousse or follow the older, Spanish Colonial tradition. I would suggest that the "portrait's" silver frame with its curlicue wire-work appliques and the tiny beading represents the latter and I am thrilled to have come upon such an unexpected treasure...
Size / Weight: 2 3/4" tall by 2" wide; 41.5 grams
Hallmarks / Date: fully marked as shown; 1930s-40s
Condition: excellent vintage with strong, saturated dark green color in the stone, great patina and no damage or repairs noted - a very unusual, quite difficult to find, example of Mexican Deco "mask" jewelry
Inv# 15901
"Mask" jewelry is not a rarity in the world of vintage Mexican silver yet the portrayals are almost always of ancient, Mesoamerican faces. And even though I am a very big fan of them as long as both the carving and the setting is interesting, I am thrilled to be presenting here a big brooch by A. Tobias housing the portrait of a more "contemporary" man. There is something in this "mask" that screams "Roman" to me and I know the typology might not even justify it but that was my initial reaction to the piece. Mexico City-based maestro Tobias is one of the early contributors to Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance whose work can go either in the way of the classic Matl-style repousse or follow the older, Spanish Colonial tradition. I would suggest that the "portrait's" silver frame with its curlicue wire-work appliques and the tiny beading represents the latter and I am thrilled to have come upon such an unexpected treasure...
Size / Weight: 2 3/4" tall by 2" wide; 41.5 grams
Hallmarks / Date: fully marked as shown; 1930s-40s
Condition: excellent vintage with strong, saturated dark green color in the stone, great patina and no damage or repairs noted - a very unusual, quite difficult to find, example of Mexican Deco "mask" jewelry
Inv# 15901