Credit: 1950's image. Museum of International Folk Art Exhibit
TONO and Antonio Pineda
I recently found this amazing rare Large Tono pendant and necklace. This indeed is the famous mexican modernist Tono who worked so much with Piedra Negra. The large abstract modernist star shape features various stones such as Malachite, Lapis, Turquoise and Tiger's Eye. I love the wonderful hinged hook and handmade chain. I am a fan of Taxco chunky silver jewelry. I try to find pieces by important designers as well as stand out unique Taxco jewerly. This piece is not by Antonio Pineda as I initially thought because he signed his Silver by Tono among other configurations- (see The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks.
Bille Hougart).
This necklace now in the shop is however by Tono also a well known Mexican Modernist. It is signed Tono with a flourished tilde, Hecho in Mexico, Taxco Sterling 925 in a circle and the assigned inventory number. Circa 1960's. Looks great on and is a very fashionable necklace. Collector's dream piece by Tono. Pre 1970's because it has no TC mark. Also no Eagle.
Antonio Pineda Necklace and Image credit- Seduction: The Art of Mexican Modernist Antonio Pineda, a traveling exhibition opening at the Museum of International Folk Art
ANTONIO PINEDA:
Returning to the subject of Antonio Pineda, whose jewelry I adore as well, his pieces are pure art.Antonio was famous for his flair for the modern and traditional Mexican motifs. He was the subject of a 2008-09 exhibition at UCLA's Fowler Museum. He was born in 1919 in a traditional Taxco family. He founded an amazing workshop and was important to the Mexican Modernist Movement.
The Los Angeles Times writer Dennis McLellan discusses Tono's experience:
"At age 11 he had a brief apprenticeship in the Taxco silver jewelry workshop of U.S. designer and entrepreneur William Spratling, who had moved to the area in the late 1920s.
Pineda later apprenticed with Mexico City painter and silversmith Valentin Vidauretta and returned to Taxco in 1936.A major turning point in his career came in 1944 when his work was included in an exhibition at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.
Richard Gump, heir to the city's exclusive department store Gump's, purchased the 160 pieces in Pineda's collection and offered to sell his designs exclusively. Other partnerships followed in Mexico, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.He was involved in mining and worked in sales and management at Spratling's workshop before opening his own silver jewelry workshop in 1939. At his peak, Pineda employed nearly 100 other silversmiths"(L.A. Times article/Obituary, Dennis McLellan).
You can find more about the history of his signatures and work on these sites: http://www.925-1000.com/mx_antonio_marks.html
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/fowler-museum-at-ucla-to-present-52141.aspx
Available for purchase at:
Necklace Images property of and by Sarara Vintage.
Sarara Vintage shop on etsy- see the link in the post title to go directly to the listing.
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