Vintage Taxco, Mexico Abstract Sterling high quality Silver Dancer Pendant (B-2-3)

This a signed Mexican sterling silver abstract pendant of an etched dancing man. It is hallmarked on the back "TP-117 Mexico 925" and measures approximately 1 3/4" X 1 1/8. The pendant is in excellent vintage condition with very light age-related wear and weighs 15.8 grams.

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YOU ARE BUYING VINTAGE PRE-OWNED JEWELRY - ALTHOUGH MY JEWELRY HAS BEEN GENTLY WORN IN MANY CASES VINTAGE JEWELRY WILL NOT BE PERFECT SO PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT IT TO BE. IT IS NOT NEW JEWELRY. A LITTLE AGE-RELATED WEAR ADDS TO THE BEAUTY OF VINTAGE JEWELRY. ANYTHING MORE THAN LIGHT WEAR (SUCH AS A TINY DENT OR DISCOLORATION) WILL BE IN THE DESCRIPTION. PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION, LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND CHECK SIZES CAREFULLY.

NO REFUNDS - ONLY EXCHANGES FOR JEWELRY OF EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE. ORIGINAL SHIPPING NON-REIMBURSABLE. RETURN AND EXCHANGE POSTAGE PAID BY YOU. PLEASE READ MY REFUND/EXCHANGE/INSURANCE POLICIES AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.

SHIPPING INSURANCE****WARNING**** - THE OPTION FOR INSURANCE IS AVAILABLE AT CHECKOUT. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEFT, DAMAGE, LOSS OR NON-DELIVERY OF YOUR ITEM, ESPECIALLY INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS.

I WILL NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR POSTAL PROBLEMS ONCE I HAVE SHIPPED YOUR ITEM AND HAVE PROOF OF SHIPMENT. ONCE THE PACKAGE HAS BEEN SHIPPED BY ME THEN SHIPPING PROBLEMS ARE BEYOND MY CONTROL. IN THE EVENT THERE ARE ANY SHIPPING PROBLEMS AFTER THE ITEM HAS BEEN SHIPPED BY ME AND YOU DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE, YOU WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY REFUND FOR THE ITEM FROM THE POST OFFICE OR FROM ME. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER HAD A POST OFFICE SHIPPING PROBLEM WITHIN THE U.S., I HAVE OCCASIONALLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH CUSTOMS AND POST OFFICE THEFTS, LOSS AND NON-DELIVERY OF PACKAGES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. THE RISK OF NON-INSURANCE IS YOURS.

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History:

The hallmark identifies the quality or the purity of the silver- i.e. .925, .999, .980, sterling or sterling silver. The hallmark may also include the date and location of the assay, the maker's mark and any import tax or duty. The maker's mark is used to identify the silversmith- generally their name or initials.

In 1980, Mexico silversmiths initiated a letter and number system to register silversmiths. The first letter indicates the city and the second letter is the first letter of the silversmith's last name. The most common cities are Taxco and Mexico City.

Examples:

TF-83 might be a piece made in Taxco by Fernandez who would be the 83rd silversmith to be registered as TF in Taxco.
MP-36 would indicate the piece was made in Mexico City by perhaps a silversmith named Perez who was the 36th silversmith registered as MP in Mexico City

From 1948-1980, Mexican silversmiths used an 'eagle mark' along with other markings, letters, names and logos. There are a variety of different styles of eagle marks- left facing, right facing, forward facing, some with a great deal of detail and others are simple line drawings. Each eagle has a number stamped on it which may indicate the location or the identity of the maker. We know that a #1 was for Mexico City and a #3 was for Taxco. There was great variation and exceptions to the eagle numbering system. Because there were so many exceptions, the eagle is not a reliable dating or identification system. We do know however that it was in use roughly from 1948-1980. Some sources beleive the high quality eagle mark system was in place as early as 1946.

From 1900 to 1948 there were no eagle marks and the marks were more simple and generic- indicating the location and the silver purity- i.e. Taxco 980 to Sterling Mexico.