Vintage Matilde Poulat Matl Salas Mexico Silver Hand Mirror with Amethysts and Turquoise

A gorgeous vintage sterling silver mirror hand-set with 8 lavender amethyst cabochons, 4 deeper purple amethyst pyramid-cut stones, and 4 small turquoise stones. 

Stamped: Matl / 925 / Mexico / MS 12

4.50" L x 2.10" W

Provenance: from the collection of Cindy Tietze-Hodosh and Stuart Hodosh.

Excellent condition; all stones are intact.

Celebrated jewelry designer Matilde Poulat first trained as a painter at the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts in Mexico City alongside famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. She opened her own silver design taller (workshop) in 1934 under the mark of “Matl” which is derived from the Aztec word for “water”. Her pieces were heavily inspired by baroque detail work as well as by the feminine colors of Mexico, often using handset turquoise, coral and amethysts as accents. She is also known for the incredibly time-consuming 'chasing' work in the metal, as well as using pyramidal cuts of amethyst. Frida Kahlo wore her designs. She trained her nephew, Ricardo Salas, who took over her shop after her passing in the 1960s.