Zodiac Bracelet

A zodiac bracelet sets a sequence of distinct astrological figures in line around the wrist, a format that played directly to Margot de Taxco's enamel method: a series of separate panels, each a self-contained field of champlevé color, linked into a single band. Margot read widely and developed a trained eye for motifs that could be adapted to either silver or enamel (Morrill, p. 168).

The enamel-on-silver technique behind the piece was initiated at Los Castillo by Reveriano Castillo and Miguel Melendez and perfected by Margot into one of her major lines (Morrill, p. 166). She designed every piece her workshop produced to written specifications covering dies, color, and assembly, with her drawings guiding the enamelers (Morrill, p. 168).

Surviving examples display the color, texture, and technical finish that Margot's calling-card philosophy, that a woman in her jewelry would be "wearing the stars," was meant to deliver (Morrill, p. 166).