Sterling silver brooch pendant, 'Self-Portrait with Monkey' (medium)
Price: $164.95

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. "Self-Portrait with Monkey" is a renowned painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo that inspires Maria Belen Nilson. Frida's striking features are expertly detailed in silver over a burnished background. She is accompanied by a monkey and a parrot in a lush tropical setting. Nilson designs a fascinating brooch pendant featuring a hidden bail as well as a pin. The original Spanish title of Kahlo's painting is "Auto-retrato con mono." .925 rating silver Artisan Info: "Hola! My name is Maria Belen, and I was born in Rio Cuarto, Argentina, on 25 February 1954. I grew up there, and graduated in Educational Studies. When I was 21, I left my country and moved to Mexico. "I came here on my own and with nothing. I chose to come to Mexico because I have admired this country and its culture ever since I was very young. I fell in love with Mexico the moment I arrived, and I started teaching literature in Mexico City. "After some years I moved to the state of Morelos, where I started doing handicrafts. I learned about different crafting techniques, and about working with different materials. "I met my husband in Morelos. He is a jewelry designer and we moved to Taxco after we got married. After my first daughter was born, we moved around the country, including San Miguel Allende and Palenque.