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G. LAFFI INSPIRED VINTAGE PERUVIAN WORKS
Here is my collection of vintage jewelry and decorative objects whose designs, materials, and construction are all characteristic of works produced by mid-century modernist Graziella Laffi, “The Spratling of Peru.” However, it should be noted that most of the motifs employed by Laffi were not original, but based on existing Pre-Inca and Inca imagery, discovered at archaeological sites. It was how she adapted these ancient icons to her particular idiosyncratic vision and technical talents that made her pieces so unique. There were many other highly skilled and creative Peruvian artists who turned to the same Pre-Columbian images for their pieces—pieces that at first glance may appear merely as Laffi copies, but are in fact superbly crafted and imaginative works in their own right. And they should be appreciated as such. You will find examples of such artists and their works in this album.

I am always adding to the album, as I find more of these works. If you would like to purchase pieces such as these—as well as other vintage collectibles—you can contact me directly at: vtgadvantage@aol.com. Or visit my online shops, TheVintageAdvantage on Ruby Lane and/or AdvantageYours on Etsy [just click on the links at the bottom of the homepage].


Copyright © 2009-2017 by JI Townsend & TheVintageAdvantage. No photo and/or text appearing on this site, whether in entirety or in part, may be reproduced or used without written permission by its author or source.
Album by June Townsend. Photos by June Townsend. 1 - 282 of 282 Total. 29362 Visits.
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Pelican Pin. 925 silver + enamel. Artist unknown.

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Pin back with partial hallmark.

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Exceptional Figural Bracelet. 925 silver + 18K gold. Hammered silver with applied 18K gold stylized, pre-Columbian bird + fish figures.

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Full view.

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Old Cuzco hallmark.

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Nasca Mythological Anthropomorphic Fish/Man Pin. 925 silver. Hammered + patinated freeform base, with meticulously hand-cut and tooled surmounted silver figural.

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Pin back with hallmark + artist signature FS.

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Bird Pin. 925 silver. Hammered + patinated freeform silver base, with hand-cut and tooled surmounted silver figural. Artist unknown.

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Hallmark.

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Wonderfully Primitive Modernist Bird Pin. 925 silver + stone inlay.

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Pin back with hallmark Industria Peruana + artist mark.

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Fabulous Tumi God Pin. 925 silver + mottled enamel. Artist unknown.

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Hallmark.

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Bird in Flight Pin. 925 silver. Silver with contrasting patinated or nielloed silver + applied silver work. Artist unknown.

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Hallmark.

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Interesting Stylized Pre-Columbian Nobleman or Deity Pin Pendant. 925 silver + 18K gold. Splendid cutwork, tool work + applied 18K gold elements.

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Hallmark + artist initials JCHM.

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Chinchilla Pin. 925 silver + 18K gold. Hammered silver base with applied 18K gold figural.

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Old Cuzco hallmark.

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Swan Pin Pendant. 925 silver + enamel. Artist unknown.

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Pin pendant back with hallmark.

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Exceptional Open Cuff Bracelet with Figurals. 925 silver + 18K. Expert hand cutwork, tool work, and surmounted silver.

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View #2.

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View #3.

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View #4.

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View #5.

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Industria Peruana hallmark.

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Highly Stylized Waterbird Pin. 925 silver + painted enamel. Artist unknown.

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Hallmark.

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Bird with Fish Pin. 925 silver + enamel.

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Old Cuzco hallmark.

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Refined Bird Pin. 925 silver. Evocative of both Laffi and mid-century Mexican silver work. Artist unknown.

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Hallmark.

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Colorful Bird Pin. 925 silver with speckled + mottled enamel. Artist unknown.

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View #2.

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Hallmark.

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Primitive Stylized Image of Pre-Columbian Cat {Perhaps a Puma}Brooch Pin. 925 silver + enamel. Hand cutwork, tool work + surmounted silver.

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Pin back with Old Cuzco hallmark.

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Hand-stamped Bird Pin Pendant. 925 silver + enamel. Artist unknown.

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Hallmark.

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Elaborately Constructed + Handsome Bird Pin Pendant. 925 silver, 18K gold + speckled enamel.

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Hallmark with artist’s intials MM.

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Primitive Stylized Image of Pre-Columbian Cat {Perhaps a Puma} Brooch Pin. 925 silver, 18K gold + enamel. Hammered + nielloed elliptical silver base, with applied gold figural with enamel eyes.

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Pin back with Old Cuzco hallmark + artist initials RI.

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Inti Sun God Pin Pendant Surrounded by Ray-like Projections of Serpent and Bird Heads. 925 silver + mottled enamel. Outstanding cutwork and vibrant coloration. Artist unknown.

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Pin pendant back with hallmark.

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Swan Pin Pendant. 925 silver + mottled enamel.

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Hallmark with artist initials that may read CML or GML.

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Stylized Birds + Pyramid Drop Earrings. 925 silver. Artist unknown.

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View #2.

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Backs of earrings.

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Hallmark.

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Bird Pin. 925 silver + enamel.

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Pin back with Industria Peruana hallmark + partial artist initials JCH.

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Colorful Stylized Bird Pin. 925 silver + mottled enamel.

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View #2.

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Hallmark with artist initials CML or GML.

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Bird Earrings. 925 silver + enamel. Hand cutwork, tooling + applied silver wings.

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View #2.

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Back of earrings with hallmark, including artist initials JVG.

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Brooch with Pre-Columbian Motif of Cat {Perhaps a Puma} Composed of 925 Silver + Mottled Enamel.

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View #2.

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Pin back with hallmark.

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Large 925 silver + Mottled Enamel Brooch Pin. Depicts pre-Incan  Lambayeque figure of “Sican Lord” god. Meticulous cutwork, elaborate tool work + surmounted silver.

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Closeup of top section.

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Closeup of bottom section.

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View #4.

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Pin back.

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Hallmark. Note lettering is very similar to that seen in Laffi hallmarks. This may be an unsigned Graziella Laffi work.

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Openwork Bird Pin Pendant. 925 silver, 18K gold + enamel.

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Back of pin pendant.

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Industria Peruana hallmark, with artist initials JVG.

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Pin Adapting Pre-Columbian Image of cat {Perhaps a Puma}. 925 silver + enamel.

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Pin back with hallmark.

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Cat Pin. 925 silver + enamel. Geometric cutwork + surmounted silver cat face.

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Pin back with Old Cuzco hallmark.

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Copper + Silver Decorative Shallow Bowl or Wall Hanging. 925 silver + copper with applied verdigris patination.

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View #2.

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View #3.

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View #4.

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View #5.

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View #6.

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View #7.

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Back showing copper stand for tabletop display, as well as triangular metal hook for hanging.

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Hallmark with artist initials OSM.

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Large Peruvian Bird in Flight Silver Pin Pendant. 925 silver. Handwrought depiction of flying cormorant displaying exceptional cutwork, detailed chasing, and surmounted silver. Wonderfully dimensional piece very much in the G. Laffi style.

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Alternate view.

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Full-on view.

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Back of pin pendant, showing old-stye C-clasp and hanging bail.

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Hallmarks 925, Industria Peruana, and artisan initials JCHM.

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Massive Peruvian Panel Bracelet with Birds + Fish Figurals. 925 silver. Astounding openwork, cutwork, incising, and fused glass accents.

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Full length view.

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Alternate full length view.

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Closed view.

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Alternate closed view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view highlighting silhouetted openwork.

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Back of bracelet.

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Hallmarks Industria Peruana + Illegible Artisan initials.

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Exceptional Peruvian Stylized Bird Brooch. .925 silver. Hammered freeform base with applied silver bird figural, displaying superb cutwork and tooling.

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Alternate view.

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Full view.

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Alternate full view.

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Back of brooch.

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Hallmark.

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Exceptional Minimalist + Abstract Peruvian Bird Pin. .925 silver + mottled enameling.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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View of superb dimensional quality of piece.

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Back of pin.

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Hallmark with artisan initials GML or CML.

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Fabulous Laffi-like Peruvian Lobster or Crayfish Pin. 925 silver and unusual emerald green enamel eye accents. Boasts exceptional cutwork and chased detailing.

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Convex form creates splendid dimensionality.

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Full on view.

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Alternate full on view.

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Back of pin.

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Hallmark reading 925 PERU.

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Exquisitely Designed and Handwrought Laffi Era Peruvian Silver + Gold Cufflinks. .925 silver + 18K gold. Hammered convex, freeform silver plaques with surmounted gold cormorant bird figural.

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Full front view.

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Toggle fittings.

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Old Cuzco hallmarks.

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Splendid Peruvian Laffi Era Silver Bird Clip Earrings. Handwrought in .925 silver. Remarkably similar to Laffi works, including clip fittings with cutout star.

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Full front view.

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View of star clips.

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Hallmarks.

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Closeup of hallmarks and clips.

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Unusual Bracelet by Coro Designed in the Manner of Laffi + Other Peruvian Works, Based on Pre-Columbian Motifs. Cast pewter.

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Closeup of cormorant bird figure panels.

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Full-length view.

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Alternate view.

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Back of bracelet with hammered textural effect.

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Hallmark: Pegasus, Coro, copyright symbol.

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Rare + Dazzling Laffi-like Necklace by Coro in Cast Pewter. Graduating and varied-shaped panels, each displaying an iconic pre-Columbian image, often seen in Laffi and other Peruvian jewelry.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view 2.

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Closeup of 3 panels.

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Closeup of next 3 panels.

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Closeup of last 3 panels.

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Back of necklace showing textured hammered effect.

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Closeup of closure fittings.

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Coro and copyright symbol hallmark.

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Group of 4 Handwrought Primitive Silver + Enamel Pins. 925 silver + enamel work depicting pre-Columbian mythological icons.

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Back of pins with crude, handmade wire C-clasps.

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Each pin marked 925.

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Fabulously Vibrant Peruvian Sterling Silver + Enamel Brooch Pendant. Depicts pre-Incan  Lambayeque figure of “Sican Lord” god. Handwrought in .925 silver with both solid, speckled, and mottled enamelwork.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Close up view.

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Back of pin with hallmarks, including artisan initials CML or GML.

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Spectacular Peruvian Sterling Silver + Enamel Signed Pendant Depicting Pre-Incan Lambayeque or Sican Civiization Ritual Funerary Mask. These mask designs are among the most emblematic images of ancient Peru. Highly defined + dimensional piece.

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Full view.

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Alternate view.

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Close up view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view. Note substantial and well-constructed, hinged bail—also seen on Laffi works.

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Hallmarks, with artisan initials CML or GML, Peru, 925.

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Rare + Rarified Signed Peruvian Sterling Silver + 18K Gold Bird in Flight Pin, with Enamel Accent. Handwrought in .925 + surmounted 18K detailing, with poured coral enamel eye, set in raised silver bezel. Piece boasts extraordinary cutwork, piercing, applied metalwork + minimalist tool work. Flying bird appears to be a stylized cockatoo.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Hallmarks bearing Welsch llama logo, artisan name CHAVEZ, 18K, 925, Peru.

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Spectacular Signed Peruvian Sterling Silver Tribal Mask Pin Pendant. Handwrought in .925, with surmounted silver detailed elements on patinated, hammered base. Piece also boasts extraordinary cutwork, piercing + tool work.

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Full view.

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Back view, showing rollover-locking clasp, as well as hidden bail.

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Hallmarks, showing Welsch llama logo and designer Chavez signature.

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Alternate close up view.

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REMARKABLE Vintage Welsch PERUVIAN Sterling Silver Openwork FISH BROOCH with Lapis Eye

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Alternate view

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Full-length view

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Close up

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Back view

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Hallmark

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Hallmark

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Remarkable Chavez Welsch .925 Silver + 18K Gold Fighting Cock Brooch

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Full length view

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Close up view

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Back of brooch

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Hallmarks

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Superbly Handwrought Chavez Welsch Sterling Silver Crab or Lobster Brooch Pendant

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Alternate view

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Full length view

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Back view

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Hallmarks

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Alternate close up view

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Wonderful Peruvian Old Cuzco Long-haired Llamas Brooch. Applied silver, hand-worked repousse, chasing and oxidizing create superb detail and dimensionality. See G. Laffi version of this design in “Graziella Laffi Vintage Peruvian Jewelry” album.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Close up of hallmark.

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Whimsical Stylized Modernist Parrot Pin Produced by Welsch. Minimalist design with applied silver, precision cutwork, chasing enhanced by oxidizing.

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Full view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Hallmark with Welsch llama mark.

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Alternate view, emphasizing applied eye.

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Beautifully Handwrought Sterling Silver Chavez Welsch Pre-Columbian Figural Brooch. Extraordinary workmanship includes both brushed and polished silver elements, meticulous cutwork, minimalist incising, and applied silver.

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Straight-on full view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view highlighting silver layering and dimensionality of overall design.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Hallmarks of Chavez + Welsch llama logo.

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Exceptional Industria Peruana Pre-Columbian Figurals Bracelet. 925 silver + 18K gold. Openwork silver with applied 18K gold stylized, pre-Columbian figures, accented with turquoise blue enameling.

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Alternate view.

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View of entire bracelet.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Hallmarks.

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Closeup view.

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EXTRAORDINARY Wearable Art! Mid-century PERUVIAN Silver + Multicolored Enamel BIB NECKLACE

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I have had the pleasure to collect and sell pieces by this Peruvian silver maker known only as GML, whose jewelry is best recognized for its vivacious, mottled or “marbled” enameling and sculptural silver figurals. Obviously a contemporary of Graziella Laffi, GML is equally well-versed in both ancient and modern motifs.

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Composed of a delicately wrought rolo chain, it holds eight trapezoidal silver plaques, interconnected by fixed and floating O-rings. The plaques are deeply convex, and their surfaces boast a dazzling palette of red, yellow, green, red, and pink mottled enamels that imbue them with dazzling animation and vitality—with no two exactly alike.

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Riveted to the center of each plaque is a sterling silver figure, representing either a traditional pre-Hispanic or folkloric Peruvian image. These captivating icons are three-dimensional in form, sporting remarkable detail that is enhanced by heavy oxidizing.

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A fabulous jewelry piece dating to the 1950’s, this collector quality necklace is simply irresistible!

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Alternate view.

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Back of piece.

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Hallmark.

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Alternate view.

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Nicely Handwrought .925 Silver Peruvian Panel Bracelet. The panels are hammered and heavily patinated. Stylized icons of Pre-Inca glyphs are forged in silver and surmounted to the panel surfaces.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back of bracelet.

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Alternate view.

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Markings.

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Alternate view.

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Large Paneled .925 Silver Peruvian Bracelet with Pre-Columbian Imagery Executed in Openwork.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back of bracelet.

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Maker initials OV and other markings.

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Alternate view.

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Mid-century Sterling Silver + Enamel Inca Figural Pin Pendant by GML or CML.

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Back view.

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Mid-century Sterling Silver + Enamel Peruvian Depiction of Inca Sun God Inti by GML or CML.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view with hallmarks.

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Closeup of markings.

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Mid-century Peruvian Sterling Silver + Enamel Inca Figural Maker Unknown.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Markings.

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Alternate view.

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Striking Peruvian Mid-century Sterling Silver + Enamel Bird in Flight Pin by GML or CML.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Hallmark.

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Gorgeous Mid-century Peruvian Sterling Silver + Enamel Bracelet + Ring Set by GML or CML.

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Bracelet

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Back view.

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Hallmarks.

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Ring

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Alternate view.

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Alternate view.

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Hallmark.

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Alternate view.

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