Handcrafted in gold and copper tumbaga, these delicate birds in flight earrings are skillfully made by women artisans in Mexico.
- Measures: Approximately 2-inches by 1.5-inches.
- Tumbagaan alloy used in pre-Columbian times from Mesoamerica to Peru and Chile, is a combination of gold and copper.
- The handcrafted nature of this product will produce minor differences in design, sizing and weight. Variations will occur from piece to piece, measurements may vary slightly.
The Story Behind the Art:
Renowned for its rich history and Old World beauty, Taxco, Mexico is known for it's masterful silver artistry, using high-quality sterling silver or alpaca silver. The Artisana Collection represents work from multiple artists in this famous region of Mexico, offering a wide range of styles from traditional to more whimsical, using beautiful, natural materials such as abalone shell, mother-of-pearl, flowers, and more to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
The Artisana Collection represents work from multiple artists in the famous Taxco region of Mexico, best known for it’s silver jewelry. The artisans continue to produce traditional jewelry much like their ancestors. The groups who produce jewelry in this collection have formed cooperatives to pool together their talent and resources – the result has been a positive impact for the individual artisans and a bigger impact on the community.
One example of a cooperative is The Union Progresista Artesanal (UPA) which was formed in 1986 and is located in Taxco el Viejo. The cooperative is made up of 26 jewelry makers who work collaboratively to sell a beautiful collection of jewelry; the group uses a wide range of beautiful materials that range from abalone, mother of pearl, sterling silver, Taxco silver, and much more. UPA has achieved stable income for many members of its community and bettered the community through initiatives that include support of local schools and programming geared towards the youth. Artisans often work out of their homes and are paid fair wages. The Fair Trade jewelry is not only beautiful, but each purchase helps to transform lives.