Share your favorites on Show & Tell

MEXICAN SILVER AGATE BIRD "I.V.S." MYSTERY

In Silver > Show & Tell and Animals > Show & Tell.
Silver1587 of 3126MEXICAN SILVER & AGATE BIRD MYSTERY #2Tiffany & Co 1800s silver spoon - marked France
33
Love it
0
Like it

LeelaniLeelani loves this.
ho2cultchaho2cultcha loves this.
vcalvcal loves this.
auraaura loves this.
lisalisa loves this.
bucketheadbuckethead loves this.
Midnight1208Midnight1208 loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
GlueChipGlueChip loves this.
Nordicman32Nordicman32 loves this.
inkyinky loves this.
walksoftlywalksoftly loves this.
Ted_StraubTed_Straub loves this.
Peasejean55Peasejean55 loves this.
smiatasmiata loves this.
Cormoran1925Cormoran1925 loves this.
Alan2310Alan2310 loves this.
TreyTrey loves this.
Moonstonelover21Moonstonelover21 loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
Rick55Rick55 loves this.
toracattoracat loves this.
RadegunderRadegunder loves this.
IvonneIvonne loves this.
BudekBudek loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
bladerunner22bladerunner22 loves this.
kyratangokyratango loves this.
riaz06riaz06 loves this.
sklo42sklo42 loves this.
mikelv85mikelv85 loves this.
kerry10456kerry10456 loves this.
See 31 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 9 years ago

    vetraio50
    (751 items)

    A fortnight ago I found this and another as well at my favourite shop on a shelf. They were marked as Mexican silver ... but the bodies were sitting on what I first thought were glass eggs. They brought a smile to my face. I had to have both of them.

    When I got home I began looking again at the marks on the birds. This bird is marked on the base: HECHO EN MEXICO STERLING. 925. I S V. The base is one of three parts of the piece. The base and feet of the bird are glued, fixed to an agate egg that makes up the body of the bird. Above that there is the head, neck and feathers made of silver that sit over the upper face of the agate. The upper part is not fixed, but actually moves over the rounded surface of the polished agate. You can change the shape of the bird into a variety of positions.

    This bird reminds me of a flamingo but I might well be wrong.

    I have seen a few similar birds on the net. But I need some help with these two birds. I have so far not been able to identify the maker. I am supposing that the 'I V S' is the maker's mark.

    Perhaps someone knows some more about the bird ... is it a Déco piece or is it later?

    Both of the birds are very well modelled and beautifully constructed.

    Any comments are welcome.

    Height : 10 cm or 4 inches.

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    logo
    Silver
    See all
    Tiffany & Co. 925 Sterling Silver Vermeil Jewelry Trinket Box Footed Rectangular
    Tiffany & Co. 925 Sterling Silver V...
    $200
    Antique Art Nouveau Miniature Iridescent Art Glass Silver Overlay Cabinet Vase
    Antique Art Nouveau Miniature Iride...
    $63
    Vintage heavy solid silver charm bracelet & 32 silver charms inc articulated,
    Vintage heavy solid silver charm br...
    $53
    NICE CLEAN ANTIQUE 1956 MAPPIN & WEBB STERLING SILVER & FAUX TORTOISESHELL COMB
    NICE CLEAN ANTIQUE 1956 MAPPIN & WE...
    $50
    logo
    Tiffany & Co. 925 Sterling Silver Vermeil Jewelry Trinket Box Footed Rectangular
    Tiffany & Co. 925 Sterling Silver V...
    $200
    See all

    Comments

    1. kerry10456 kerry10456, 9 years ago
      Possibly a flamingo, my first thoughts before reading description was that of an Emu, just another person's perspective......That's what's fun about "Art" everyone sees something just a little different. Great pieces, Thanks for starting my day off well.
    2. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks KERRY 'n MIKELV too !!!!!!!
    3. mikelv85 mikelv85, 9 years ago
      You're welcome Kevin :).... I've been checking around and they're calling these pieces onyx, jasper, or agate sterling bird figures. Lots of forms. Herons, chickens, road runners, peacocks etc. Most seem to originate from TAXCO Mexico even if not marked as such along with the artists initials. Fairly pricey too !
    4. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      The other is a road runner .... It's hilarious !!!
      Many thanks SKLO & RIAZ too !!!!
    5. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks KYRANTANGO !!!!
    6. kivatinitz kivatinitz, 9 years ago
      http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MEXICAN-MEXICO-STERLING-SILVER-HIGH-MOUNT-RING-TAXCO-925-EAGLE-2-IVS-/171891215029?hash=item280583cab5

      Here it is marked IVS and Taxco
    7. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks KIVATINITZ, ROYCROFTBOOKSFROMME & BLADERUNNER too !!!!

      Can I ask a question?
      Thanks KIVATINITZ for that link. I note that the eagle has a 2 in the centre. I thought Taxco was 3.

      Does anyone know what city the 2 was for ????

    8. kyratango kyratango, 9 years ago
      Hey Kevin, I found a sister goose for him!
      http://www.ebay.fr/itm/311430928540?clk_rvr_id=890080845268&rmvSB=true
    9. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      If anyone has a copy of 'The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks: Hecho en Mexico' by Bille Hougart could they check page 255 for the Eagle 2 marks?
    10. SEAN68 SEAN68, 9 years ago
      stunning bird!!! lovely!!
    11. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks for that link KYRANTANGO !!! I have seen quite a few birds .... by a variety of firms. There are some very large examples too.
    12. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks SEAN !!!!
    13. SEAN68 SEAN68, 9 years ago
      your very welcome Kevin!!
    14. Rick55 Rick55, 9 years ago
      And a pair no less??!! Great find Kevin!
    15. kivatinitz kivatinitz, 9 years ago
      http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lg-vintage-signed-hecho-en-mexico-isv-490398263
    16. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks TONINO, IVONNE, RADEGRUNDER, DON, RICK & KIVATINITZ !!!!!!!
    17. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks KAPUTS !!!!!!
    18. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks AGHCOLLECT !!!!!!
    19. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks MOONSTONE !!!!!!
    20. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks TREY & ALAN too !!!!!!
    21. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks CORMORAN !!!!!!!
    22. kivatinitz kivatinitz, 9 years ago
      it is a white ibis
      https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Aves_de_M%C3%A9xico#/media/File:Whiteibis.jpg
    23. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks SMIATA !!!!!!!

      And to you too KIVATINITZ for your help.
    24. agoodworks agoodworks, 9 years ago
      Im thinking it is an Ibis.
      Ibis are in the gulf of mexico!
      Look at this picture:
      http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-white-ibis-sanibel-island-florida-silhoutte-bird-shore-beach-gulf-16099143.html
    25. agoodworks agoodworks, 9 years ago
      The beak is the give away. Here is a better picture:
      http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-white-ibis-bird-fishing-river-image18090934
    26. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks AGOODWORKS for your input !!!!!!
    27. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks PEASEJEAN !!!!!!
    28. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks WALKSOFTLY !!!!
    29. vetraio50 vetraio50, 9 years ago
      Many thanks TEDSTRAUB !!!!
    30. inky inky, 9 years ago
      Why were my thoughts when I saw this was..." Beep..Beep "... :-)).....love it vetraio50...:-)
    31. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      Many thanks INKY & NORDICMAN SCOTT !!!!!!
    32. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      Many thanks GLUECHIP !!!!!!!
    33. ho2cultcha ho2cultcha, 8 years ago
      wowza!! this is a real treasure Vetraio - one of the coolest pieces i've seen in a long time! of course, i'm very prejudiced towards Mexican art.
    34. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      Many thanks HO2CULTCHA !!!!!

      I think these pieces have a humour that you rarely see in silver !!
    35. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      Many thanks THOMAS !!! !!!! !! ! !! !!!! !!!
    36. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      Many thanks MIGNIGHT !! !!! !! ! !! !!! !!
    37. vetraio50 vetraio50, 6 years ago
      Many thanks BUCKETHEAD !!!!!
    38. vetraio50 vetraio50, 6 years ago
      Many thanks LISA & NEWFLD !!!!
    39. vetraio50 vetraio50, 6 years ago
      Many thanks AURA !!!!
    40. vetraio50 vetraio50, 2 years ago
      Many thanks VCAL & HO2CULTCHA !!!!!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.