BIG Sterling Necklace- Antique? (UPDATED)

[Silver Surfer]

Hunted the small local park again today. Pretty good finds for only 2 hrs... $3.57 in clad, and one 1955 Rosie and 2 Wheaties, 1954 and 1923!
Also found a large necklace, and before I got home, I thought it was just costume jewelry.... Cleaned it up and it is .925!! Beautiful green stone in the center... I will post another picture of it after I get it cleaned and polished up... Due to it's configuration and size, I cant weigh it accurately, but it is heavy. I would say at least 40 gms..

I have about 1/2 of the park left to hunt. It is about maybe 1/2 acre in size... HH all!

 

[Kanyontreasures]

Re: BIG Sterling Necklace- Antique?

Spooky, could you recomend your favorite high heels and handcream. Most of us are at a loss on that type of stuff.

All knowledge is useful, but some is best kept to one's self.

FH

LOL! I was about to ask Spooky the same thing!

You guys are terrible..



My ex GF used to sell Lia Sophia jewelry, it's like high end costume jewelry.
Generally silver and "semi precious" stones with designs like that.

THAT was why I would think this...

Sigh.....

spooky, didn't your girlfreind have a necklce like that in the 80s?

happy hunting
Kanyon

hey man i was helping you out! and i was almost right

 

[september]

Re: BIG Sterling Necklace- Antique?

Nice find!!

 

[allen]

Re: BIG Sterling Necklace- Antique?

congrats on that beautiful piece !!!

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Re: BIG Sterling Necklace- Antique?

Taxco silver if made by the right designer/studio can be very expensive. I'd definitely try to decipher any additional marks on the necklace to determine who the maker was.

A couple of years ago I found a beautiful sterling silver bracelet in GGP, that I thought was Victorian. It turned out to be Taxco silver from the 1920's, and by a well known artist/studio. It was valued at $150 by a dealer that specialized in Taxco jewelry I found online:

BTW I visited Taxco a few years ago when I was sent to Mexico City on a two week business trip and it was a sight to behold (and a place you'd love to metal detect!). The silver work was simply amazing, everything from $5 pins to $50,000 custom silver work.

Congrats on the necklace, may not be your cup of tea, but still fun to find

HH,
Brian

 

[Silver Surfer]

Re: BIG Sterling Necklace- Antique?

Well here are few pictures of the necklace cleaned up... I have to get a new buffer-wheel to continue, as you can see it has a lot of scratches that need to be polished out.. Overall a very nice necklace though. I wonder how someone loses something like that. I do know that they have a Bazaar in that park every saturday, and that people sell jewelry.. Still, an awful big piece to just drop, let alone no one see it before it disappeared. Must have been lost in the summer when the grass is longer and sank before anyone saw it.. It was relatively deep though, so maybe more than a few months had gone by... It was about 5" down I think...

 

[Montauk]

Silversmith's hallmark anywhere?

 

[SassyDetectorette]

That is an amazing find! The stone is so pretty!

 

[Silver Surfer]

Silversmith's hallmark anywhere?

Not that I can find.... I would think if it had one, it would be near the other marks, no? The clasp has nothing, nor do the other parts... Could it be so small and in a hidden area of the piece?

Is it worth much on say, epay?

My wife cant wear silver, and I think it is far too beautiful and unique to scrap out.. I looked at all the Taxco sights and couldnt find another like it... They are known for "one of a kind" pieces... Sure wish I knew how old it was (or new).... They (Taxco) go back to the 20's it seems... I know it isnt that old, but maybe the 50's or 60's?

 

[Montauk]

Hallmark or not, your necklace kind of suggests the work of Sigfredo Pineda. Broad smooth surfaces & large ovoid stones.

http://www.925-1000.com/mx_sigi_X.html

I guess you might try posting on some kind of silver forum. Here's a couple I found. It's a dramatic, characteristic piece. Somebody's going to recognize it's atelier.

Tough to date, for me anyway. 1950's to 1980's which doesn't help much.

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=11

http://www.modernsilver.com/silverforum.htm

Good Luck

 

[ShootTheMoon]

I agree with Montauk!
Definitely Sigfredo Pineda. He was the about the only artist doing his own thing, so to speak.
Many Taxco artists were more into tribal jewelry and too much filigree, than the more "modern", clean jewelry art style.
Either way you are looking at between $100-$500 for your piece.
You may not find it on-line, because it may be a one of a kind piece.
Many Taxco jewelry artists are undistinguishable, making one piece, not mass pieces.
You seem to have stumbled upon a nice piece, I would even say vintage!
I envy you being all stones green and all metal silver, is my favorite.

PS: Only strange thing I see is the lack of a signature...or "maker's mark" showing the artist.
There is usually a distinguishing mark/stamp on the jewelry to identify the artist.
Sigi's was usually a circle with Sigi Tasco on it.
I would put your piece between 1950's-1970's.
"Intaglio marks “980”, “960”, “940”, and “925” are from the mid 1930’s to the mid 1940’s. "
"From the 1950’s and later, most work was stamped “Sterling” or with an incuse (hammered or stamped in) “925” stamp."
"After 1979, Registry marks were required i.e. TS-24 TAXCO which is a registration system."
"The “Eagle” form marks were instituted by the Mexican government in 1948. The Eagle sketched was used until 1955 and then a silhouetted Eagle was used until the late 1960’s or early 1970’s." - yours lacks the eagle mark.
"Many fine pieces are unmarked or the mark is indelible."
http://www.jacksonjewels.com/Reference/Silver_Jewerly_Information_Hallmarks.htm

 

[Aussie Okie]

Amazing find...really nice necklace, way to go!

 

[Mr Tuff]

that is a sweet find MR TUFF

 

[Capt. Destructo]

Great Taxco piece, icing on the cake if its signed somewhere, is that a shadow of a mark below the visible one? Have found Taxco pieces re-marked, pirated from other artists, stolen ect. Do some research and cross your fingers, and just maybe it will turn up. Cha- ching! $$$

 

[cntrydncr1]

that is a beautiful piece. I think you should definitely sell it instead of melting...

 

[Silver Surfer]

I ended up finding an "expert" on Taxco jewelry, and she stated it was not vintage, but retro... Also said it was not made by anyone famous, but rather "an apprentice" who often copy the style of a famous silversmith... When they get good enough, according to her, they are then allowed a makers mark, and no longer an apprentice... I had it on ebay, and there were some pieces going for huge sums of money, but I got very little interest in mine and the final bid was only $30...
My wife was really bummed, and would have rather kept it than sell it for that much.. Heck, you add the labor we both put into it, and we didnt do well at all... Oh well, win some-lose some....