Caroline's Jewelry with a Past is offering a Margot de Taxco (Margot van Voorhies Carr) sterling silver pair of earrings with champleve enamel c. 1955. The piece is Margot’s number #5384 and is called "Leaf Scroll". The design features enamel in a bright turquoise color. The smooth scroll pattern with jagged intrusions was one of Margot's early styles. The earrings are 7/8” X 15/16”. They have screw back attachments. The earrings weigh 10.2 grams. One earring is marked “Made in Mexico” + “Sterling” + the older style Eagle 16 mark. The second earring is marked “Margot de Taxco” + “5384”.

Margot van Voorhies Carr, known as Margot de Taxco , was originally from San Francisco and moved to Taxco Mexico in the 1930's. She was married for a time to Antonio Castillos who was a partner in Los Castillo, a prominent silver manufacturer. She did a number of their designs in the late 30's and early 40's. Los Castillo continued to use her designs for a number of years. When she left the marriage and started her own jewelry production about 1948, she began with many of her basic Los Castillo designs and modified them to her own tastes. Later, her enamel designs became key to her unique style.

Champleve enamel is produced when cells in the piece are filled with vitreous enamels and then fired to produce rich colors and depths. Each color must be fired at different temperatures to produce the effects desired, so each piece could be fired a number of times. Due to the various enamels and techniques used, there may be wear or discoloration of the enamel in spots. There may be surface scratches on the item. We will note any actual loss of enamel. This piece features Margot de Taxco enameling techniques which will show varying depths of colors that is part of the beauty of these pieces.

The silver content of this piece has been tested using standard accepted testing methods, such as acid testing. The silver is marked "Sterling".

When you own vintage handmade jewelry, you wear a design that is unique and represents the artist's vision. It is made by a skilled craftsman and can have features which are only found in this piece. The jewelry may exhibit the marks of the craftsman. It will not be perfect. Due to the various enamels and techniques used, there may be wear or discoloration of the enamel in spots.