Description
Vintage Matl/Salas Sterling Turquoise Amethyst pin.
Designed by Matilde Poulat (AKA "Matl" (Aztec for "Water") who is & always will be one of my personal favorites that made her fame during the "Mexican Silver Renaissance Days" & later..She was a painter & designer 1st & was born in the Yucatan & later on went to study at the San Carlos Academy in Mexico City at the same time the famous muralist & husband to Frida Kahlo,Diego Rivera was studying there..One of her 1st teachers was a "P.OCHOA",a man whose works you rarely come across & you will find Matl's earliest works,emulating Ochoa's,which was nothing like the style she ended up owning.She opened shop in 1934 & ended up having her own 'signature look",which to this day people still pay homage to her designs.
She produced some of the most ornate jewelry that was being produced in Mexico back in the day..The inspirations she fell back on were inspired from the Mixtec people of Monte Alban, Oaxaca area. Each designer during the Mexican Silver Renaissance days had their own unique style,but it was Matilde,who brought the beautiful motifs of doves, flowers, and tiny bells that are reminiscent of the whimsical subjects of contemporary Mexican folk art...The beauty of her metal work,was so time consuming & was considered Baroque in style with a undeniably "Mexican"look..
She was known for laying round turquoise or coral cabochons all in one bezel that was then crimped' to hold the stones in,rather than setting them individually & you will see the perfect example of this style in this pin,which gives her piece's a whole different look,because of this. Another one of her signature styles was her time consuming 'chasing' work in the metal,as well as using 'pyramidal' cuts of amethyst.Every piece made are works of art..She is highly collectible!! She taught her nephew Ricardo Salas the art of jewelry making & taught him her style that was signature to only her & worked side by side her till her death in 1960 & while continuing to stay true & keep her style alive till his death in 2007.
