ANTONIO PINEDA - Mexico (1919-2009)* Imposing necklace by the master of Mexican modernist jewellery in silver (970 thousandths) with openwork links. The central links are elongated trapezoids decorated with cultured pearls on concave blackened silver strips. Length: 38 cm. Gross weight: 148.6 g. Antonio Pineda was a key figure between 1950 and 1970 for his modern forms, his volumes and his absolute art of working with silver. An exhibition in Los Angeles in 2008 was even dedicated to him. This piece of jewellery bears the hallmark of the crown with which he signed from 1953. At the time, Pineda was already at the peak of his art; he loved angles, geometry, elongation and smooth surfaces. Also known as "the explorer of the modern spirit", he used 970-purity silver, as opposed to 925-millimetre sterling.