Vintage Rafael Melendez Taxco Silver Abalone Screwback Earrings

Rafael Melendez (1911-1980) was a prominent figure in the Mexican silver renaissance. Notably, he was also one of the original apprentices to William Spratling and opened his own renowned workshop, Plateria Melendez, in 1939. These earrings were made between 1940 and 1948. He was known for this style of blending modern silver craftsmanship with pre-colonial motifs and frequently worked with various gemstones, such as abalone (paua). All stones are intact without chips or missing segments. Gorgeous to the max, artisan estate jewelry! Hallmarked (see photos): Sterling, RM, Taxco, 925, Mexico.

Gemstone: Have you ever seen an abalone shell under a microscope at 250x? Mother Nature is amazing! See photo.