Pre-1948- Taxco Mexican Artisan "ES" - Impeccable / Exquisite Repousse / Overlay Work - 4" Tall Sterling Clamper Bypass Bracelet - Approximately Up To a Tiny 6.25" Wrist!
Pre-1948- Taxco Mexican Artisan "ES" - Impeccable / Exquisite Repousse / Overlay Work - 4" Tall Sterling Clamper Bypass Bracelet - Approximately Up To a Tiny 6.25" Wrist!
PROVENANCE:
Having collected Mexican vintage jewelry for well over 50 years now, one style that I have always adored wearing, are these ‘finer’ repousse clamper bracelets—especially the wider, more substantial ones! This bracelet comes from my personal collection, which I’ve cherished for around 15, if not maybe 20 years now. I’ve built a meaningful collection of them, and although this particular piece is so beautifully made that I may well regret parting with it, I do need to downsize a bit and pass it on to someone who will enjoy it as much as I have.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: ‘ES’:
As many repousse clampers as I’ve owned that were signed “ES,” to this day, despite intensive research — I still don’t know what those initials stand for. What I do know about them, is that this artist was based in Taxco, Mexico, and produced some of the finest repousse work among those who specialized in repousse and or clamper bracelets. ES ranks up there with another favorite of mine, Alfredo Villasano.
REPOUSSE:
If you are not familiar with what repousse is, it is where the metal is worked from the backside to get the relief lift on the front, top side. When the artist goes to pound the metal, they have to have good dexterity, a super steady hand, a good eye & some mathematical skills for the design to be accurate, since any little mistake is then shown on the front side.. This technique is not something that can be learned overnight & literally takes years to become as skilled as ES was.I would call him a "Master" artisan at this.
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THE CLAMPER:
Considered a fine work of “metal art,” this incredible piece is part of Taxco, Mexico’s historical legacy, created during the period when many talented artisans were emerging and literally put Taxco on the map. It lacks the “Eagle” hallmark that was used on Mexican jewelry from 1948–1979. Based on the design and workmanship, I would date it to the early to mid-1940s.
Made in a repousse overlay, this piece is designed from two sheets of sterling silver: a smooth bottom sheet that conceals what would otherwise be visible repousse work on the top sheet. This underlying sheet masks the detailed workmanship, so without it, the full repousse design would be exposed and clearly seen.(See last photo)
**PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING:
This is made for a "Hard to Find" tiny wrist. When this clamper is in an overlapped vertical position, it will fit a very small wrist. If your wrist is larger, the clamper will not overlap,nor will it sit with a centered alignment, because it will be opened slightly to accommodate the extra size. In short: the more closed it is, the tinier the wrist it will fit; the more opened it is, the better it will fit a slightly larger wrist. If your wrist measures over 6-1/4", this clamper will be too small.
I have about a 5.25" wrist and it fits me perfectly — it doesn't flop around and stays snugly in place. I should mention that clamper bracelets are not put on like a traditional bangle or even like a cuff. They occupy their own distinct category and because of the spring, deserves a bit of special handling. To avoid stressing or damaging the spring, I find the best method is to gently use my arm to open the bracelet, letting the motion of my wrist and forearm do the work rather than forcing the metal with my hands. The spring is quite strong, and you don’t want to weaken or break it — repair is difficult and jewelers who can fix them are rare. So if you’ve never owned a clamper before, it’s important to follow this advice to preserve its longevity.
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ARTIST: ES
CIRCA: Pre-Eagle 1940’s
WRIST SIZE: From a 5.5” wrist to a 6-1/8” to 6-1/4"" (Tiny!)
MADE IN: Taxco, Mexico
METAL: Sterling
TECHNIQUE: Repousse & Overlay Work
WEIGHT: 62.6 Grams (2.20 Ounces)
CENTER WIDTH: 4" Long
WIDTH BACKSIDE: 1"(At Spring)
INTERIOR LEFT TO RIGHT MEASUREMENT: About 2” Across {Because of the curvature, this measurement is “Approximate”} See photo 8
HALLMARKS: “ES” Hecho en Mexico- 925-Sterling Taxco "
CONDITION: Excellent Pre-Owned, Spring is Tight & springs back to a overlapping 'bypass' position when closed. Kept it in a air tight protector.
Comes well Wrapped
PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING:
To give you close up photos so you can see all the detail, pictures tend to make the item look gigantic & everything is more magnified than in actuality.. So to get an accurate idea of how big this is, please either check it out being worn to get a rough idea (photo) or you can pull out a tape measure & compare to my given measurements.
