Made in the 1940s, this very unique large sterling silver pendant or brooch is designer signed AAR for Antonia Reina.
The brooch predates the Eagle marking system in Mexico which went into effect in 1948. Antonio Reina, master silver artist, produced exceptional art-to-wear jewelry. Reina worked for Margot de Taxco, Victoria de Taxco studio, and others. Antonios jewelry is highly collectible and is constantly appreciating in value.
This large oval pendant or brooch features a flat sterling wide band frame with Mayan symbols. The handmade sterling bezel holds a large domed Lazulite polished cab. The Lazulite is translucent with a silver painted back. This is an excellent price on this brooch, simply because I have such a large collection. Most of Reina's brooches currently sell in the $ 250-350 price range.
Large in size, the brooch or pendant is 2 1/8" long x 1 5/8" wide or 55 mm x 41 mm. There sterling and the Lazulite cab are both in excellent clean condition. The only slight imperfection are some tiny scuffs on the Lazulite cab, on top the dome off to one side. Some age to the silver painted back can be seen in a few spots around the edges if you turn the brooch on an angle. The slight imperfections are very hard to notice with the naked eye. There are no dings or scratches on the sterling; only some very microscopic hints of gentle handling commensurate with well-kept age.
The safety clasp and bar pin are sterling and the back of the brooch is signed Hecho en Mexico, AAR, Sterling. The word Hecho is hard to read but the rest of the signature is very clear.
Comes gift wrapped and shipped in a new luxury presentation brooch box.
