VINTAGE 1950S CANDIDA JOE CALAFATO DESIGNED STERLING SILVER BROOCH (13.48G)

RARE VINTAGE CANDIDA 1950S DESIGNER PIECE BROOCH BY ONE OF SOUTH AFRICAS TOP CREATIVE SILVERSMITHS, JOE CALAFATO, WHO USED THE NAME CANDIDA, BETWEEN 1947 AND 1972. 
 
One designer-manufacturer of the late twentieth century whose work has been comprehensively recorded, is Joe Calafato (1912 -1991). He designed and manufactured jewellery and other precious metal artifacts for 37 years (1947 1984) in Pretoria. His work made an important contribution to the development of a uniquely South African precious metal art manufacturing tradition. 
 
THIS BROOCH IS IN THE FORM OF AN AFRICAN LADY WITH LARGE LOOP EARRINGS.
 
Joe Calafato was known for incorporating African and wildlife images in different pieces of jewellery. His preferred medium was silver which was already well established as a popular jewellery base in the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century.
CLEARLY STAMPED STERSILV AND S AFRICA CANDIDA
 
SIZE: 33MM WIDE 50MM HIGH
WEIGHT 13.48G
 
MARKINGS: STERSILVER  CANDIDA  S.AFRICA STAMPED
 
CONDITION: SILVER HAS A BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE PATINA. STRUCTURALLY VERY GOOD.
 
JOE CALAFATO (1912-1991):
Joe Calafato designed and manufactured silver jewellery, flatware and hollowware during the mid to late 20th century in a career spanning 37 years in Pretoria (1947-1984), South Africa.
His work made an important contribution to the development of a uniquely South African design domain and has left a lasting appeal with collectors. His work has become increasingly sought after at antique and collectible markets.
Of Sicilian parentage, Giuseppe Leonardo Calafato was born on the 10th of July 1912 in the then Lorenço Marques (now Maputo) Mozambique. In the 1920s the family moved to Johannesburg. Here he did his apprenticeship as a manufacturing jeweller under Jack Friedman a well-known local jewellery manufacturer of his time.
During his career as independent creative silversmith, he made use of various makers marks. He started using the name Candida as his first makers mark (1947-1972), after which he switched to a number of marks, namely Carina, Velia, JC, Dawu and Joe Calafato.
He sold his business in 1984 and, after a long battle with cancer of the esophagus, the South African King of Silver, Joe Calafato died in 1991 at the age of 79.

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