Cruciform brooch of Mexican designer jewelry, made of tested silver and signed MATL SALAS MEXICO. The composition is articulated in four widened arms with turquoise and coral applications, topped by openwork volutes, and a central square-cut amethyst that visually organizes the piece.

The piece combines geometric repertoires and materials characteristic of 20th-century Mexican silversmithing, with a highly marked ornamental treatment and a recognizable manual construction on the reverse. The presence of the signature, together with the combination of silver, colored stones, and cruciform structure, allows it to be solidly placed within Mexican designer jewelry of the second half of the 20th century, approximately between 1960 and 1970.

Matilde Poulat, founder of MATL in 1934, holds a prominent place in the history of 20th-century Mexican silversmithing. Her work developed its own language in which the geometry and modern taste of the Art Deco period were combined with pre-Columbian, religious, and popular Mexican motifs, frequently using silver, turquoise, coral, and amethyst. After her death in 1960, Ricardo Salas continued the legacy of the MATL workshop. The "MATL SALAS MEXICO" signature on this brooch directly links it to that creative continuity.

Period / Style: Second half of the 20th century, Mexican designer jewelry
Origin: Mexico
Circa: 1960–1980
Materials: Tested silver, turquoise, coral, and amethyst
Hallmarks or Punches: Signed MATL SALAS MEXICO
Acid test: Performed
Measurements: 4.4 × 4.4 cm
Weight: 13.37 g
Condition: These items are not new; they show signs of wear and may have scratches and imperfections characteristic of their age and use. Please examine the photos carefully. We offer an accurate description; if you need to confirm a detail, please write to us before purchasing.