Modern Mexican design at its most dynamic: this is a sterling silver and chrysocolla pendant made by Antonio Pineda in 1960. Pineda (pictured with a model bedecked in his work) was one of the leading maestros (masters) of Taxco, an artistic Mexican locale supporting a variety of handcrafts. Antonio Pineda began apprenticing in William Spratling's famed silversmithing taller (workshop) at the age of 11; this was his entry into the Taxco School (Taxquenos) of metalwork which was nascent 1930s but flourished in the 1940s-1960s. Pineda opened his own taller in 1933, and his work remained strong through the 1970s. In its heyday, Taxco was the high-end shopping destination for Hollywood celebrities, ex-pats, and global socialites. These jet-setters may have appreciated the avant-garde scene that flourished there, but the real attraction was the extraordinary jewelry. The maestros (masters) of Taxco metalsmithing in Pineda's workshop during the 1950s and 60s are considered by many to be among the finest of the period; they included José María Pineda, Elpidio Morales, and Fortino Mota. Pineda's metalsmithing family extended from his father to his cousins. Design aesthetics of modernist Mexican jewelry ranges from revivals of antique or Mesoamerican ornament to sculptural abstraction. This dramatic starburst motif reflects the internationality of space-age design currents. Blue-green chrysocolla is an unusual choice of gemstone not typically found in Mexican art jewelry; as a whole, Pineda’s work is characterized by the use of more semiprecious stones than any of the other Taxquenos. . . Pendant by Antonio Pineda, 1960 Gift of Jimmie Romero in memory of Christie Romero 2012.943.63 . . .