Argentina Artisan Emiliano Céliz

Sterling Silver & Fire Opal Modernist Pendant Necklace Circa 1990's

Measurements: Pendant: 1.9"L x 2.05"W (4.83cm x 5.21cm)

Chain: 16.5"L (41.91cm)

Markings: CELIZ  Sterling

Weight: 25.7g

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An exceptional and highly distinctive handcrafted sterling silver pendant necklace by celebrated Argentine silversmith Emiliano Céliz.

This dramatic modernist pendant has an almost sculptural presence, hand-forged into a broad abstract form with softly rounded contours and an beautifully textured, hand-worked surface. At its center is a vivid oval Australian opal, alive with flashes of electric green, turquoise and deep blue. The small raised gold plated accent above the opal and the linear detailing extending through the center of the pendant add wonderful dimension while emphasizing the deliberate asymmetry and organic character of Céliz's work.

Rather than relying upon applied ornamentation, Céliz allows the silver itself to become part of the design. Subtle hammering, texturing and variations in the surface catch and reflect the light differently from every angle, giving the piece the unmistakable character of jewelry made individually by hand.

The wide horizontal bail is beautifully integrated into the pendant and accommodates the substantial sterling silver snake-style chain, creating a wonderfully clean and architectural presentation. On the neck, the pendant has excellent presence without appearing overly heavy—a sophisticated statement piece equally suited to a minimalist wardrobe or a serious collection of studio and modernist jewelry.

The pendant is signed CELIZ and chain marked sterling.

Both the pendant and chain are in excellent vintage condition with no damage noted with natural patina. Please review all photographs, as they form an important part of the description and beautifully illustrate the hand-forged surfaces and natural play-of-color within the opal.

A rare opportunity to acquire an early jewelry work by Emiliano Céliz—bold, artistic and unmistakably handmade, with the kind of individuality that makes studio jewelry so compelling to collect.

Timeless, sculptural and truly one of a kind.

About Emiliano Céliz

Emiliano Céliz is an internationally recognized Argentine silversmith whose work occupies a distinctive place between traditional metalsmithing, contemporary decorative art, studio jewelry and sculpture.

Born and raised in Córdoba, Argentina, Céliz developed an early appreciation for craftsmanship and creative expression through the influence of his father and maternal grandfather. He has also credited his time at the Domingo Zipoli Children's Choir School with giving him an early understanding of harmony—an idea that would later become an important element in his approach to form.

Before pursuing metalsmithing professionally, Céliz earned a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and spent approximately fifteen years traveling throughout Argentina. He eventually left the sciences to devote himself fully to craftsmanship and silversmithing.

Largely self-taught in traditional silversmithing techniques, Céliz initially worked across a wide range of disciplines. His earlier career included one-of-a-kind jewelry and custom knives, before his practice expanded into the ambitious sculptural silver and copper objects for which he later became internationally recognized.

Rather than treating precious metal merely as a surface to decorate, Céliz explores the expressive potential of the metal itself. Using techniques based upon hammering, raising, stretching and forming, he manipulates silver and copper into fluid, organic shapes. Many of his celebrated larger works are painstakingly created from a single sheet of metal, an exceptionally demanding approach requiring great technical control.

In 2003, Céliz moved with his family to San Martín de los Andes, in the Patagonian lakes region of Argentina. The mountains, lakes, vegetation and constantly changing natural landscape surrounding his home became an important source of inspiration. Forms suggesting waves, leaves, flowers, vessels, seeds and other organic structures recur throughout his work.

Céliz has explained that he generally begins a work with an idea rather than a completed drawing, allowing the design to evolve through his physical interaction with the metal. This intuitive process is central to his artistic philosophy and gives his objects a quality that is simultaneously controlled and spontaneous.

His work gradually expanded beyond traditional silversmithing into pieces that blur the distinction between functional object and sculpture, earning him recognition within the international contemporary decorative-arts community.

Significantly for collectors of his jewelry, Céliz's wearable work was not merely incidental to his career. He was formerly known for unique studio jewelry, and in 2014 he received First Prize in the “Joyas de Autor” category at the 2nd International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Argentina. “Joyas de Autor,” often translated as author jewelry or artist jewelry, refers to jewelry conceived as an individual artistic expression rather than conventional commercial production.

His international activity has also included participation in exhibitions and gallery programs outside Argentina. In 2018, Céliz participated in the Transit – Ideen auf der Durchreise program in Hamburg, Germany, and gave an artist talk at Galerie Hilde Leiss, a gallery closely associated with contemporary artist jewelry and applied arts.

His work has subsequently been represented and exhibited through galleries and collections internationally, while his sculptural silver and copper objects have become increasingly prominent within the contemporary decorative-arts market.

Remarkably, in 2026 Céliz returned explicitly to jewelry with his “Astro” collection. In introducing the collection, he described Astro as “a return to the beginning of my practice,” both in its forms and in the way the pieces are created. The collection revisits fundamental shapes and concepts of harmony that have fascinated him throughout his career, creating a direct connection between his contemporary jewelry and the wearable work with which his artistic journey began.

This makes surviving examples of Céliz's earlier jewelry particularly fascinating. They document an important formative component of a career that would eventually develop into internationally collected sculptural metalwork.

His jewelry and objects share many of the same characteristics: organic form, subtle asymmetry, tactile hand-worked surfaces, strong central compositions and an unmistakable sensitivity to the natural behavior of metal.

Artist Statement

"Alchemizing the stone with fire, hammering and tapping, I forge the metal. Trying to persuade her gently, encouraging her into shape with my hands—it is an attempt to create. I imitate: the flowers, the waves of the wind, the blossoms, the mighty dance of life! I start by edging with steel; sparkles, textures, and shades are born. As bright as dawn, silver comes to shine."

Today, Emiliano Céliz's work represents a remarkable synthesis of traditional Argentine silversmithing, contemporary design and sculptural experimentation. His early studio jewelry, award-winning artist jewelry and later monumental silver objects reveal not separate careers, but different expressions of the same lifelong exploration of metal, form and nature.