Fred Davis style Mexican Deco silver and stone "mask" Bracelet

There are not many cases in which "massive" is an understatement in the description of a piece of jewelry and even though Mexican silver is in general bold and beautiful, bracelets like the one presented here are worthy of special mention! Green dyed calcite was often used by the early maestros in Mexico's 20th c. Silver Renaissance yet here the carved central "mask" is of monumental proportions. Teased out of a big chunk of stone that has been carved in the back to conform to the shape of the wrist, this "portrait" conjures up Aztec pyramids half-hidden in the jungle, their surroundings dotted with broken statuary of old gods and fierce warriors. The silver-work accompanying the "mask" is of the same proportions, the links big and similarly shaped, with added semi-spheres to each of the four corners.

I have seen this bracelet design in person once before when several years ago a dealer friend showed me a similar piece at Brimfield. The central "mask" had a dramatic crack going through it diagonally but on the back, the conjoined initials of Fred Davis were clearly stamped. Now it is widely known that Davis was no Spratling where hallmarking was concerned. It is not unusual for his parures to be signed only on one or two of the pieces, often just on the necklace, so when sets are separated, the unmarked pieces lose their "attribution". Based on construction and the sheer magnitude of the bracelet at hand, I will dare propose that it could very easily be one of those "lost" Fred Davis creations...

Size / Weight: 7 1/2" long (wearable) by 2 3/8" wide; 183.8 grams

Hallmarks /Date: "MEXICO SILVER" (see description for attribution suggestion); 1920s-30s

Condition: excellent vintage, with stunning presence, monumental proportions, good patina and no damage or repairs noted - a bracelet for the "warrior princesses" out there

Inv# 16004