Mari Mexican silver and copper "hummingbird" Pendant Necklace

One of my favorite William Spratling designs, the original (bearing his signature) "hummingbird" pendant necklace I have seen crafted in all-silver and silver combined with black onyx or obsidian. I am sure other configurations must be available which I have not encountered so it is understandable that I was elated to discover this version marrying sterling with copper. My first surprise was followed by a second when I saw that the piece at hand was signed by Mari. In the back of my head, Mari was a familiar name - I had seen it so many times leafing through Bille Hougart's book on Mexican silver hallmarks yet I don't believe I had ever owned an example by them. Yet when I went back to it, I realized that Hougart's "Marie" has that extra "e" at the end whereas mine is simply "MARI" in capital letters. Is this simply a different version of the same maker's / retailer's hallmark or is it a totally different entity we are dealing with? And who is this newly-discovered "MARI"? Whichever the case (and I love these little puzzles!), the necklace is stunning, its quality of the highest level, with the bird sculptural, crisp in its details, very very close to Spratling's original, simply magnificent. Not a piece to be missed...

Size / Weight: 29" long with the pendant adding a drop of 3 1/2" and being 2 1/4" wide; 68.5 grams

Hallmarks / Date: "MARI" as shown as well as "TAXCO MEXICO 925" alongside Eagle 3 assay mark; 1960s-70s

Condition: excellent vintage, exhibiting craftsmanship of the highest level, with a heavy, tactile pendant rich in detail and having gorgeous patina; no damage and no repairs noted - this is collector quality indeed!

Inv# 15912