Early Mexican Jewelry
Silver Filigree Necklace, Made in Mexico, 19th Century
In the 1960's, when Taxco, Mexico was a flourishing center of silver workshops, Mary Davis and Greta Pack decided to write about the history of Mexican Jewelry. In their book, Mexican Jewelry, they discuss what Mexican jewelry looked like in the 16th through the 19th century. Jewelry designs were influences by the Spainiards as well as the Roman Catholic Church. Often, jewelry was made in gold as well as silver with elaborate filigree work as one of the dominant styles.Pearls were highly valued and plentiful organic gemstones used in Mexico in the 1600's. Gorgeous coral found along the Mexican Gulf Coast also was fashioned into jewelry. By the 19th century, diamonds were incoporated into jewelry worn by the ladies in wealthy Mexican families.As a matter of record, Mexican women of wealth wore only diamonds and pearls, considering colored stones such as emeralds beneath their dignity.
Reference: Mexican Jewelry, Mary L.Davis and Greta Pack, University of Austin Press, Austin, 1963
