Los Castillo Mexican silver modernist onix negro Necklace

Fun and perfect for this summer – especially if you decide to stay away from beaches! – this mod sterling silver “fish with air bubble” necklace by Los Castillo comes out of the workshop’s “onix negro” line of jewelry. I find this technique fascinating – it poses a big challenge to the lapidary’s and silversmith’s abilities as the onyx slab has to be carved out precisely to the dimensions of the sterling inlay that will be set in it. The transition from one material to the other has to be perfectly smooth and seamless and we can always count on the Los Castillo to achieve the effect. Interestingly enough, it seems that here the stone was also treated with a dark brown glaze that made it look like rosewood, which was also used in Mexican jewelry at the time, Spratling being its first and foremost, I believe, proponent…

Size / Weight: 14 1/2″ long (can be extended with a custom-made removable piece; ask if interested) by 1/2″ wide; 61.0 grams

Hallmarks / Date: fully signed with the Los Castillo signature as well as “ONIX NEGRO”, des. no 11 A and Eagle 15 assay mark; 1950s-60s

Condition: very good vintage featuring a fun, absolutely mod design, exhibiting perfect workmanship and having the patina you want to see on a well-enjoyed, well-taken-care-of necklace; there is minor wear to the dark brown glaze on the onyx links but it’s literally invisible to the naked eye – you can see it here because of the macro lens I used for my photography but you won’t be able to spot it (nor anybody else for that matter) when you have it on

Inv.#15020