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Description
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Horse heads sculpted out of silver; mounted on quartz and volcanic rock. Signed and numbered by the artist, Manuel Carrera. Madrid, Spain.
Carrera y Carrera is the most well-known Jeweler’s House in Spain. The Carrera y Carrera House is in the top five of the largest jeweler’s companies in the world and is the only company creating jewelry articles on the order of the Spanish Royal Family. Carrera y Carrera created the famous "Saber of Victory" which is decorated with emblems of all the Spanish provinces. In addition, they created a fantastic tiara made of rubies, emeralds, sapphires and gem diamonds, which was offered as a gift by the Spanish Royal Family to Queen Fabiola of Belgium.
The history of the Carrera y Carrera House began more than a century ago. It was a golden age for Madrid, which at the time, was considered one of the most important cities in Europe. Of the 320 aristocratic families of Madrid, 270 lived in Madrid. In 1885, Satorio Carrera left his native town Arhiresta de Hita for Madrid, where he created his dream of having a small jeweler’s shop in Calle Santa Isabel . The shop became successful, and the only son of Satorio Jose and Anna, Jose Esteban carried on with the family business. He undertook the shop management, and in 1912 went to Paris where he began to learn the his art from the finest craftsmen of the time. Soon after his return to Madrid, he became one of the most famous jewelers in Spain. Jose Esteban created a unique style which gave a rise to traditions of Carrera y Carrera. He created adornments with pictures of animals and became a style which was in vogue at the start of the century called "animalier". His favorite subjects were flowers, enigmatic panthers and butterflies, which were admired by ladies of high society . Jose Esteban had no children, but his two nephews took over from him as they launched a Carrera y Carrera small jeweler’s company. The company name was a fusion of its two founders names. Wanting to offer their customers something special, Manuel Carrera ( by then a noted sculptor) united the art of jewelry and sculpture. This combination was so good that even today it is the Carrera y Carrera trademark. The very first collection of Carrera y Carrera was a revolution in the jewelry world. The reputation of exceptional quality and artistyof Carrera y Carrera recieved the attention of the Spanish Royal Family who began ordering special creations. Special orders even came from the president of DeBeers
Manuel Carrera is known around the world as the "Spanish Faberge". Carrera y Carrera designs cannot be mistaken as anything but their own, with its own history and its own symbol. They are easily recognized mythological personages, fairy tale heroes, beautiful girls and wild animals. Adornments of Carrera y Carrera have always been famous for their kinship to animals; panthers, dolphins, swans, turtles, horses and even ladybirds. Carrera y Carrera jewelers believe that the animals may become a for totems their owners, bringing them luck and good fortune.
Today's Carrera y Carrer collection has over twelve thousand designs. All are issued in limited quantity and each of has its own serial number.
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