Vintage MIGUEL ARIAS of Taxco Mexican Silver Enamel Earrings

This is a large and very striking pair of vintage Mexican silver and enamel earrings by MIGUEL ARIAS of Taxco, formerly an enamellist for Margot de Taxco.

The earrings are shaped like large flames or leaf fronds with the design outlined in silver and filled with a glossy guilloche enamel of brilliant turquoise-sky blue over a dotted bed.

They are a full 4 cm (just over 1.5″) high by about 2 cm (0.75″) at their widest and fasten with screwbacks. The screwbacks are positioned so that when worn most of the bottom swirl remains below the ear lobe with the remainder curling up the ear.

Only one of these Miguel Arias earrings is signed. It is stamped with the number “5402” and two largely illegible circular marks, one of which has “925” at the centre with “ARIAS” just readable above and the top of the “X” and “CO” of Taxco visible below. The other circular mark has “[HE]CHO E[N]” at centre with “MEXICO” just readable below. There is no eagle mark or “T” number on either earring indicating they date to before 1948.

These vintage Taxco earrings are in excellent vintage condition with no damage to the enamel – it is bright, glossy and intact with no scuffing (any odd-looking areas are reflections). On one of the earrings (the one on the left) there are two very tiny dark spots at the very tips of the enamel which are tiny “missed spots” – not at all noticeable but mentioned for accuracy. The screwbacks are in very good working order, holding securely. There is quite heavy tarnishing on the backs – the earrings have not been cleaned.