Gerardo Lopez Mexican silver Clamper Bracelet

It's been a while since I presented a piece by Gerardo Lopez but he is one of my favorite Taxco maestros, a talented silversmith and designer who excelled in the art of repoussage. I believe Lopez was at his best when he created pectoral necklaces and clamper bracelets and it is an exquisite example of the latter form that I am showing here. Definitely inspired by Los Castillo and Margot de Taxco (I have suggested in the past that Lopez must have worked for either one or both of the famous workshops) this is a glorified "feather and bead" design, bold in the way the motifs unfold themselves, perfectly finished and undoubtedly not for the faint-of-heart. Imagine it worn over a long, black sleeve...

Size / Weight: 7" inner circumference (adjustable to fit larger sizes thanks to the hinged construction but I would not advise trying to "squish" it to make it smaller - you might damage the repoussage); width between 3 3/8" at center front and 3/4" next to the hinge, on the back; 69.6 grams

Hallmarks / Date: fully and appropriately hallmarked with maker's logo as shown as well as "HECHO EN MEXICO" and "STERLING 925" alongside Eagle 26 assay mark; 1950s-60s

Condition: very good vintage with a strong-as-new hinge (this type of hinges is almost impossible to replace and the one in this bracelet is tight and snaps back with no hesitation whatsoever), workmanship of the highest level, great patina that enhances the fleshiness of the repoussage and no damage or repairs noted; I would like to point out that a previous owner tried to adjust the bracelet's shape so it is a little our of round but this does not affect wearability and looks nor has it (fortunately) resulted in any breaks or cracks

Inv# 15308