LOS ANGELES, CA.- On Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, at 12:00pm PST, John Moran Auctioneers invites you to travel south of the border and experience the wide array of artisanal wonders presented in their Made in Mexico auction. This spring sale has over 330 lots and will offer everything from fine art to Folk Art furniture, drink sets to saddles, and over 150 lots of jewelry including an impressive collection of Mexican silver designs. Featured artists and designers include Emilio Rodriguez Larrain, Arnold Belkin, William Spratling, Rene Contreraso Osio, Antonio Pineda, and Matilde Poulat.

Leading the category of fine art is Llansa-Cadaques Julio Agosto, 1963, by Emilio Rodriguez Larrain (1928-2015). The Peruvian Modernist exhibited throughout Europe, including Madrid, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris, Florence, Milan, and Rome. In 2106, the Lima Art Museum in Peru held a retrospective of his work, praising him as “an important avant-garde sculptor, architect, and painter who knew how to adapt to the artistic changes of the time and who played a very important role in the visual arts of Peru.” This mixed-media work has an estimate of $5,000-7,000.

In addition to Peruvian art, there is a nice selection of Mexican art, led by Arnold Belkin with his work, Los Pescadores, 1951. Belkin (1930-1992) was a Canadian-Mexican painter known for continuing the Mexican muralism tradition when many Mexican painters were shifting away from it. He was born, raised, and started his artist training in Canada but was not interested in traditional landscape-focused Canadian art. Over the years, he embraced Mexican art and learned from regional artists. Los Pescadores, estimated at $4,000-6,000, is a strong example of Belkin’s painting repertoire, but he also produced a number of murals on commission, sculptures, and prints.

One of the most prominent designers in this sale William Spratling. Spratling (1900-1967) was an American-born silver designer and artist best known for his influence on 20th-century Mexican silver design. Amongst the selection of lots showcasing Spratling’s work, 15 are from the Ralph Hammond Estate. Ralph Hammond (1916-2010), Poet Laureate Emeritus of Alabama and president of the Alabama State Poetry Society, was a friend of William Spratling. The Hammond family traveled several times to visit Spratling at his Taxco home and workshop. On December 14, 1962, Ralph Hammond served as an escort for Spratling during the conferral of his honorary doctorate, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Auburn University. Their relationship would span many years, and the pieces offered in this auction reflect his purchases directly from William Spratling during this time. Another exceptional example of his work is found in the silver sangria pitcher. The pair of two-light candlesticks have an estimate of $3,000-5,000, and the sangria pitcher is valued at $2,000-3,000.

Along with Spratling silver, there will be other examples of silver tableware like a “Paul Klee” mixed-metal coffee pot, 2010, by Rene Contreraso Osio. Estimated $1,500-2,000, this sterling silver coffee pot has a tiered geometric design, bands of inset copper, a cylindrical cut-out, and an ebony handle.

A few unique decorative items that collectors will not want to miss are a large Mexican folk-art figure of a boy, estimated $2,000-3,000, a large Tlaquepaque pottery oil jar with a $1,000-2,000 estimate, and several Oaxacan alebrije figures including this dragon, estimated $500-700.

Last but definitely not least are highlights from the jewelry selection presented in this sale. Over 35 of those lots will feature Antonio Pineda designs, one being a set of silver and aventurine quartz jewelry, estimated at $1,200-1,800. In addition to jewelry sets, collectors will also have their pick of Pineda bracelets, brooches, rings, and necklaces, like a silver and onyx quatrefoil necklace, estimated $500-700. The rest of the jewelry offerings will come from designers such as Margo de Taxco, Fred Davis, Enrique Ledesma, Los Castillo, Hector Aguilar, and Matilde Poulat, with a silver brooch for Matl under the directorship of Ricardo Salas, estimated $700-900.