WS010 Vintage William Spratling sterling silver and azur malachite “Hands” necklace; circa-1951 to 1965; SOLD
Origin: Taxco, Mexico
Dimensions: 17”L; center panel 5.18”W x 3” H at center from top of ring; 78.8 gm
Condition: Excellent

Featured in Morrill and Berk’s ‘Mexican Silver’ (Page 78, Plate V-16), Spratling's workshop produced this iconic necklace during the Third Design Period, 1951-1967. As exemplified by this stunning necklace, Spratling's use of light and shadow were made much more dramatic through the use of materials that he had used infrequently in the past. The Hands design most often appears in tortoise shell* but the azurite version was more expensive to produce. With its wonderful yin yang symbol held in open hands, this necklace makes a real statement for those seeking to harmonize East and West enlightenment.

*Collectors and sellers of vintage jewelry (all genres less than 100 years old) take note – It is illegal to buy and/or sell tortoise shell items made by Spratling, Antonio Pineda, etc. since the species of tortoise used in these vintage pieces is on the endangered species list. That an item is ‘vintage’ does not change the law. You may own a piece but once it is offered on the market for sale, it is in violation of the Endangered Species Act. For more information, visit/contact the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) at www.fws.gov. For an item over 100 years old, the burden of proof is on the Seller to obtain appropriate documentation and approval of the FWS before attempting to sell.