The History of Collectible Mexican Silver Jewelry
Mexican silver jewelry is becoming popular as a collectible item thanks to its excellent craftsmanship, durability and colorful artistic flair. Owning a piece of the jewelry is like owning history that retains its value as a piece of art.
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History
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In the early 1930s, in the Mexican town of Taxco, an artist's colony specializing in silver jewelry art sprang up. Artist and author William Spratling is primarily recognized as starting the Mexican silver jewelry trade.
Significance
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The wide variety of creative art forms expressed in silver Mexican jewelry is distinct from any other kind. It's also representative of a certain period in history, which adds to its value as a collectible.
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Geography
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Mexican silver jewelry can be found throughout Mexico, but mainly sprang forth from the town of Taxco, Mexico. Taxco is known as the silver jewelry capital of the world. Mining for silver and other substances began there in pre-Columbian times, with the locals using the silver to pay tribute to their Aztec rulers.
Identification
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Most Mexican silver jewelry has stamps and hallmarks on it, which can easily be identified in a variety of books on the subject. The hallmarks and stamps give a clear indication of the jewelry's history, its maker, and its metal quantity.
Misconceptions
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Not all silver-toned jewelry made in Mexico is collectible. "Alpaca" jewelry is often confused with "sterling" silver jewelry. Alpaca jewelry is a mixture of nickel and various metal alloys.
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