ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Designed by Matilde Poulat (AKA "Matl" (Aztec for "Water") who is & always will be one of my personal favorites that made her fame during the "Mexican Silver Renaissance Days" & later..She was a painter & designer 1st & was born in the Yucatan & later on went to study at the San Carlos Academy in Mexico City at the same time the famous muralist & husband to Frida Kahlo,Diego Rivera was studying there..One of her 1st teachers was a "P.OCHOA",a man whose works you rarely come across & you will find Matl's earliest works,emulating Ochoa's,which was nothing like the style she ended up owning. She opened shop in 1934 & ended up having her own 'signature look",which to this day people still pay homage to her designs.

She produced some of the most ornate jewelry that was being produced in Mexico back in the day..The inspirations she fell back on were inspired from the Mixtec people of Monte Alban, Oaxaca area. Each designer during the Mexican Silver Renaissance days had their own unique style,but it was Matilde,who brought the beautiful motifs of doves, flowers, tiny bells & angels that are reminiscent of the whimsical subjects of contemporary Mexican folk art...The beauty of her metal work,was so time consuming & was considered Baroque in style with a undeniably "Mexican" look..

She was known for laying round turquoise or coral cabochons, all in one bezel that was then crimped' to hold the stones in, rather than setting them individually & you will see the perfect example of this style in this stand,which gives her piece's a whole different look, because of this. Another one of her signature styles was her time consuming 'chasing' work in the metal,as well as using 'pyramidal' cuts of amethyst. Every piece made, are literally works of art.. Her jewelry was worn & collected by celebrities in Mexico(Including Frida Kahlo) & the 'elite of America.. To this day, her work is HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE!
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THE STAND:
Unlike this amazing artist's jewelry,Ms Poulat's ornate religious stands are not the easiest to come across,since they are highly collectible & have gone into the hands of collectors. Matilde brought her "Kneeling Angel" design to the industry just under 100 years ago & is signature to only her & her alone. This is a very old & very rare stand that may only be 4" tall in height, but has a 10 feet tall presence when it comes to design, workmanship & history!

The Paloma's that face inward at the top of the cross are one of her earlier styles that you can see in the way they are tooled.At all points of the cross,there is a soften "U" shape of little turquoise beads that sit in her signature 'garland' style, where they lay side by side in one bezel rather than being individually set.A pear shape cut of turquoise sits outside this area. Off the sides of the cross, hang the kneeling angels that have a twisted wire halo & a candlestick in hand.A tiny cut of turquoise sits in the candlestick. The angel on the right side however, is missing it's turquoise.(See photos) In the center is a table cut, cut of turquoise that is framed by small red coral cuts that lay in a cross pattern. The metal is heavily patinated & proudly shows it's age.

Would make a excellent display on a night stand, office desk,cabinet or just as a wonderful gift (Wedding??)Each time you look at it,It will always remind you how amazing this artist was,an artist that left us way too young & if she was here today, she would then see just how her work has been deeply admired by an international audience & the impact she made by collectors that will never grow tired of her work..