Vintage Silver “Mexican with Donkey” Brooch by Candida

The vintage silver brooch is in the form of a Mexican man with sombrero, and a donkey with an articulated bucket attached to its back. The brooch is marked “STER SILv; CANDIDA”, which shows that it was made in South Africa by Joe Calafato.

CANDIDA was the maker’s mark used by Joe Calafato from about 1947 to 1972. Joe Calafato was a silversmith who worked in Pretoria from 1947 to 1984. Calafato was born in Mozambique in 1912 and moved to South Africa in the 1920’s. He was apprenticed under Jack Friedman, a noted jeweller of that period, and set up his own business in 1947.

Weight                                    12.7g

Age                                         Circa 1960

Dimensions                             36mm x 50mm

Condition                                Very good

Stock Code                             AK265