Cecilia / Tono Mexican silver tiger's eye "mask" Ring

One of the most successful duo in Taxco’s 20th c. Silver Renaissance, Cecilia and Tono excelled in some of the most difficult techniques in jewelry making like piedra negra, metales casados and mozaico Azteca. Their jewelry is usually modernist yet their designs unfailingly reference Mexico’s rich archeological heritage. I particularly love their “mask” pieces, especially their rings that do not come up very often and I am thrilled to have come upon the tiger’s eye example presented here. Beautifully carved, the “portrait” is housed in a substantial sterling setting with azur-malachite inlay. The hand-hammered shank and the stylized “feather” flourish that playfully turns downwards covering part of the “mask’s” forehead add extra interest to an already spectacular piece…

Size / Weight: sz 6 US (a skilled jeweler could resize it without damaging the hallmarks); face is 1 1/4” N-S by 7/16” E-W; approx. 9/16” rise; 20.1 grams

Hallmarks / Date: maker’s signatures as shown as well as “HECHO EN MEXICO”, “TAXCO STERLING 925”, Eagle 3 assay mark and des. no 21; 1950s-60s

Condition: excellent vintage with an imposing, skillfully carved “mask”, gorgeous colors in the stone and the inlay, which is all securely in place, with beautiful patina and no damage or repairs noted

Inv# 15942