All of these items came from a studio in Oaxaca named "Blue Jaguar" and carry on traditions brought by the Spaniards hundreds of years ago. These are labour intensive pieces, with most parts constructed from sheet silver and from wire. Only a few pieces are cast, and those are generally the hands which clasp onto the top pendants of the drops. The rest are cut, hammered, decorated, soldered, etc... Wires are wrapped and curved and magically transformed into beautiful and delicate shapes.
Wonderfully, parts like hands are made opposite to each other with the left hand on the left - - and the right hand on the right. The decorative birds are created to copy specific types. The modern decorative element is the glass, the stones, and the pearls adding colour to the pieces. I apologize for the poor quality of my images here - I do promise that they are of good colour, beautiful texture, and much nicer than they appear.
There is a wide variety of sizes of earrings here, and they have all been copied with the same proportions so you can see how them compare to each other. Many of the images have enlargements if you click on them. If the image of MEX01 measures 3 1/4 inches tall, then you will be seeing everything life size. The earrings are all pierced and the earring hoops have little locks in the back so that they would be difficult to lose.
If more than one pair are bought at a time, I can offer a 10% discount on them... do enjoy looking...
MEX01. These two pairs of earrings are made of silver but gold
plated twice over. The gold will not wear down quickly but maintain
its warm colour for a long time. Earrings #1 are just under 1 1/2
inches long, are set with clear blue glass and have pale bluish pearls
hanging from them. $76.US. Earrings # 2 are just under
3 inches long and are set with pale glass. Branches embrace the top
and birds fly across the bottom. $110.US. (#2 is sold)
MEX02. Four pendants, set with glass - are illustrated here.
They measure 1 3/16 inches tall from top of loop to bottom of pendants.
They come with sterling chains. They are brilliantly coloured and
a wonderful touch at the neck. Pendant #2 is actually the colour
of amethyst. $45.US/each. (#1, #3 & #4 are sold)
MEX03. These are beautifully decorated pendants with lovely
birds at the top with beaks together. They are a sign of love.
These measure 1 7/8 inches tall and come with a simple silver chain.
Pendant #1 has a pale blue stone at the top, and a garnet dangle at the
bottom. The other two dangles are made of silver. Pendant #2
has garnets set in it. These are $65.US/each. (both
are sold)
MEX04. These three pairs of "hand" earrings are simple and
striking. An image which I always keep in my mind when thinking of
Mexico is the extension of the hands raised in the air to say thank you
for their lives. Hands are symbolically important all over the world.
These earrings measure 11/16 inches long from the top of the hoop to the
bottom of the pendant. Their colouring is much better than it appears.
Earrings #1 are made of a nice pale blue topaz, #2 are made of citrine,
and #3 of a rather lilac coloured iolite. The earrings are $44.US/each
pair. (#1 is sold)
MEX05. These earrings are beautiful little flowers (1 7/16
inches tall including loop) decorated with steely lilac pearls. The
petals of the flowers are nicely decorated just like all surfaces are in
the work from this jewellery shop. $44.US. (sold)
MEX06. This is a pair of earrings though I have only shown
one. They are slightly over 1 1/2 inches tall and have a swinging
moon shape within them. A nicely coloured (much nicer than on the
image) blue apetite stone is set at the bottom. $70.US. (sold)
MEX07. Earrings #1 are 2 1/2 inches long. The hoops move
within the grasp of the hands. There are birds decorating each of
these pairs. #1 are decorated with bluish pearls, some having a touch
of lilac. $96.US. Earrings #2 and #3 are structured the
same way but measure a little over 1 3/4 inches long. #2 have squat
slightly turquoise/blue pearls hanging from the bottom. #3 have pink
tourmaline. $65.US/each pair. (#2 and #3 are
sold)
MEX08. There are two lovely pairs of birds here. Earrings
#1 have pendants of pale iolite, and 32 have pendants of amethyst.
They measure 1 1/4 inches tall and are wonderful just flitting by your
ears. $26.US/each pair. (#1 is sold)
MEX09. Hearts are simply a sign of love. These have some
great filgree work around the pink glass hearts in the center. Small
dark pearls hang from the bottom. These earrings are slightly over
1 1/2 inches long and a beautiful gift. $68.US. (sold)
MEX10. These earrings are quite complex. They work that
they took to create is quite awesome. These are both 2 1/2 inches
long. Earrings #1 have two dark tourmaline stones acting as flowers
and a tourmaline pendant hanging below. Earrings #2 have two brilliantly
coloured tourmaline stones as well as pendants below. They
have complicated designs hammered beautifully into them. You will
receive compliments for sure when you wear them... $158.US/each
pair.
MEX11. These earrings measure 1 7/8 inches long. They
(like many of the others) move beautifully when one walks. They are
lightweight and swing like leaves in the wind. Earrings #1 actually
have pearls of a different colour and I just couldn't get it set right
on the image. The top pearl is creamy but the dangling pearls are
light lime green. I love those birds at the top. Earrnings
#2 have pale blue pearls at the top and tiny aqua blue ones at the bottom.
They are just gorgeous. $95.US/each pair. (both
are sold)
MEX12. Oh, the earrings from this studio are among my favourite
newly made earrings anywhere. These are elaborately decorated.
The stone at the top is a dark coloured amethyst, beneath it hangs a pale
pinky pearl and at the bottom a pale amethyst, with a more reddish colour
than on the image. The earrings are 2 1/4 inches tall and cost $150.US
for the pair. (sold)
MEX13. These brilliant earrings are 2 inches wide and 2 1/4
inches tall. They have 4 different birds illustrated on each earring
along with winding tendrils and different plants. The inner loop
holding the little moon shaped swing is shaped like a bird itself with
its tail on the left and its head on the right. They are just amazing
and quite light in weight so easy to wear. $175.US.
MEX14. There are two very different styles of earrings here.
The first pair is similar to the top earrings on this page, only they have
remained in their silver version. It is wonderful how a bird suspends
the green glass stone and the leaves grasp it from above. The stone
is a very rich emerald green and the earrings measure 3 inches in height.
$95.US. Earrings #2 are 2 7/8 inches tall and a reflection
of love. They are slightly over 2 inches wide and swing gently when
walking. A coppery pearl hangs from below the dark green stone in
the flower at the top. A bright green peridot decorates the one below.
$170.US. (#1 is sold)
BLU01. This is a gorgeous bracelet,
simple and sweet. It looks very attractive on the wrist. The
basis of the bracelet is a slice of silver which is slightly wider at the
top of the bracelet than at the bottom and has a graceful shape at the
back. It stands 1 inch tall and has two birds facing each other at
the front. They are hovering over a blossom centered with an orange
facet piece of glass. This can be gently pulled to slip it onto the
wrist. It is 6 1/2 inches around on the inside. This is made
of sterling silver which has darkened over time. It can be polished
to a sparkle, but personally I like this darkened look myself.
$195.US.
BLU02. This is a very attractive
ring which sits like a flower on the finger. The band and the petals
on the side are made of sterling silver, and the center of the blossom
is a facet glass stone. The ring fits a size 7 1/2. $115.US.