Vintage MATL Matilde Poulat Mexican Silver Heart Terminal Pair With Velvet

Rare Vintage Matilde Poulat (MATL) Mexican Silver Heart Terminal pair with velvet. This unique piece of jewelry history includes the velvet ribbon to make a tied necklace, choker, or could also be shortened or replaced with a new piece of fabric or ribbon to make a bookmark. This rare design features an abstract heart design. 

Silver is in great vintage condition with wear and patina consistent with age. The original velvet ribbon has a small partial rip. 

Measures approximately 1.5" x 1", with an approx. 29" long red velvet ribbon. Ribbon is slightly darker than photos represent.

Stamped with "MATL" on backs.

Matilde Eugenia Poulat was born in 1900 and was from Mexico City. She studied art at the prestigious Academy of San Carlos in Mexico, and in her early years, was both a painter and a painting teacher. In the early ’30s Matilde turned her full attention to the design and crafting of fine silver jewelry. She established her own brand, MATL, in 1934.

Matilde is a striking example of an artist who forged her style and found success by rejecting colonial legacies and following an independent creative path. Her designs emphasized both religion and pre-European folk art, embracing the rich artistic heritage of pre-Columbian civilization. The motifs Matilde favored — doves, flowers, and tiny bells — echo the whimsical narratives of contemporary Mexican folk art. In the 1940’s she became internationally renowned for her work, which accentuated more ancient styles and used a spectacular array of intensely colored stones, most often amethyst, turquoise, and coral. The delicate and detailed use of coral and turquoise stones required both talent and time to complete the considerable chasing work. It's no surprise her designs were often copied, a form of recognition and flattery in itself.