gemstones

In celebration of life, this Day of the Dead skull serves as a reminder of the connection between the living and the dead. Mexican artisan Oscar Figueroa Escorcia, who works with a passion for carrying on Taxco traditions, crafts the skull pendant of sterling silver with elegant floral patterns. A quartet of natural turquoise, natural amber, amethyst, and cultured pearl dangle from the pendant of this necklace.

These intriguing dangle earrings are the original design of Balinese artisan Made Wardika. Carefully carved from smooth white bone, skulls suspend sterling silver feathers and sleek lengths of chain. Topping the skulls are faceted round garnets. The earrings swing from sterling silver hooks.

Her name is Catrina, an invention of artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. She is now the smiling hostess of many of Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations. She appears on these sterling silver earrings made by Oscar Figueroa Escorcia of Taxco, herself wearing earrings of amethyst.

A staring, stoic skull is carved by hand of smooth white cowbone to center the pendant of this impressive Balinese necklace. Made Wardika presents the necklace, which is elaborated with sterling silver designs that surround the skull, and accented with a petite peridot gemstone.

Sporting dangly earrings of natural turquoise, this Catrina is glamorous. The talented Oscar Figueroa Escorcia in Mexico crafts this original pendant necklace from Taxco sterling silver, with oxidized areas enhancing the detail. The pendant centers a sterling cable chain.

The original "La Calavera Catrina" was a zinc etching created by the artist José Guadalupe Posada in Mexico around 1910. Posada created the character, a female skeleton with an elegant hat, as a satirical portrait of Mexican natives who aspired to European style and denied their own heritage. The catrina has since become an emblem of Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration and a popular folk art subject.