Vintage Ledesma Modernist Brooch Pin Taxco Mexican Sterling Silver w Moss Agate

This is a wonderful modernist sterling silver brooch made by Mexican silversmith Enrique Ledesma.  Ledesma grew up in his father’s Mexico City workshop, had an art education and then re-located to Taxco, working for Spratling, Aguilar and Los Castillo before opening his own workshop in 1950.  This piece is one variation of an iconic Ledesma design.  One aspect of the brooch is the seamless incorporation of the stone into the silver.  The piece has a pin at the back with a safety catch.  The back is stamped “Ledesma Mexico R Taxco 925 R 213S” along with the number 3 within the Eagle assay mark.  In addition, the retailer, Birks of Canada, gold soldered a “Birks Sterling” plaque onto the back, I assume in order to assure their well-heeled customers that 925 meant sterling silver quality.  Birks is considered the Tiffany of Canada, so they would have only carried closely inspected merchandise had they not created it themselves.  The brooch measures 2 3/8” in length and weighs 14.7 grams.  It is in very good condition with no wear - I have not polished the brooch.  I believe that the brooch dates to the 1950s.  Although an abstract design, this looks a little like a fish to me, although I guess that that would be subject to personal interpretation.

This is a small piece of art - beautiful form and quality!