LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Made in Mexico auction, presented by John Moran Auctioneers, was held on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 10:00am PST. Bidders near and far showed interest in the 300-lot sale, featuring fine and decorative art and jewelry from Mexico, Cuba, Central, and South America, as well as some from the Los Angeles Latino community.

Mexican fine art led the auction, starting with lot 142, Woman in Veil, 1969, by Ricardo Martinez De Hoyos. Known for his figurative work on surreal atmospheres, this oil painting garnered strong interest, bringing in $18,200 (including buyer’s premium) with an estimate of $8,000-12,000. Then, lot 214 presented a work by the Mexican/American artist, José Luis Cuevas. His large (54.75" H x 55" W) Marquis De Sade, Niño, 1964 started with an estimate of $2,500-3,500, but ended with an impressive price realized of $11,250 (including buyer’s premium). Bidders also gave notice to Paseantes En La Calle, 1983-84, an abstract of a mix of legs wearing shoes by the Ecuadorian artist, Enrique Tabara. Greatly influenced by the Constructivist Movement, lot 193 earned $7,500 (including buyer’s premium), over doubling its estimate of $1,000-2,000.

Jewelry collectors across the globe were drawn to the massive mélange of Mexican silver. Of the 100+ lots, most pieces performed overestimate, the top-slot being a set by Valentín Vidaurreta. Lot 334 presented a group of silver jewelry comprising of a linked silver and azurmalachite collar necklace, a silver pierced pennant link necklace with matching earrings, an openwork silver interlinking necklace, and a floriform linked bracelet. This six-piece set from the Mexican designer had an original estimate of $400-600 but brought in a whopping $6,875 (including buyer’s premium)!

Another note-worthy jewelry designer was Matilde Poulat. All seven of her jewelry pieces performed at or above their estimates, but lot 135 was the favorite. This exquisite piece was a Matl silver and gem-set dove and basket necklace having central panel, designed with two doves flanking a coral set basket, and scrolled links set with coral and turquoise. The $2,500-3,500 estimate was happily overshadowed by bids coming to the value of $5,525 (including buyer’s premium). Lots 139 and 138 were silver and turquoise broaches that had $500-700 estimates, but each brought in $1,500 and $1,125 (both including buyer’s premium).

Other standout jewelry lots were 331, from Abraham Paz, and 235, by Antonio Pineda. Having an $800-1,200, the group of silver, onyx and obsidian jewelry by Paz brought in $5,313 (including buyer’s premium). Pineda’s silver chunky collar necklace and bracelet set sold for $4,688 (including buyer’s premium) after passing its estimate of $1,200-1,800.

This auction also included almost 30 lots from the Mexican designer, Hector Aguilar. Like Poulat, the majority of Aguilar’s pieces went well above their estimates. Lot 87, a Georgia O’Keefe-style belt and bracelet was estimated $1,000-1,500 but due to its popularity earned $3,750 (including buyer’s premium). Highlighting the Aguilar jewelry offered in this sale was lot 70, estimated at $1,000-1,500. The group of silver and turquoise jewelry comprised of a double-link collar stone set necklace with a green hardstone clasp, a matching stone set double-width link bracelet with carved set stone to clasp, a similar all-silver link bracelet, and a matching stone-set screw-back earrings. This 5-piece set sold for $2,925 (including buyer’s premium).

Representing Mexican sculpture was a group of Sergio Bustamante mixed metal animals. In an almost life-size form, his copper and brass Lion was the king of the collection, selling for $3,575 (including buyer’s premium)—almost tripling its estimate of $800-1,200. The Seated Giraffe, lot 182, came in second, earning $2,925 (including buyer’s premium) with a $1,000-1,500 estimate. And lot 186, Bustamante’s Frog, leaped over its $300-500 estimate, landing $2,340 (including buyer’s premium).

Of the modest selection of pottery presented in this sale, a couple of Mata Ortiz pieces were the stars of this category. Lot 126, a large Mata Ortiz pottery vessel by Taurina Baca, had an estimate of $400-600, but the large redware pot with black avian motifs sold for $2,080 (including buyer’s premium). Then, a Hector Ortega Mata Ortiz blackware pottery vessel, lot 129, brought in $1,690, going over and beyond its estimate of $400-600.

The final highlight of the Made in Mexico auction was a very unique piece. Lot 222, by Jesús Guerrero Santos, was a Maria Santisima Holy Water Font from 2003. This bénetier was valued $400-600 but ended with a price realized of $1,625 (including buyer’s premium).