Ken Beldin Large Scarab Design Pendant, Mid-Century Mexican Mixed Metal

Ken Beldin was born in Mississippi and studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He retired as head of a successful ad agency in Los Angeles in 1931 to travel through the Southwest. He worked for a time with Mexico’s National Railways attracting tourists to travel to Mexico by rail and was drawn into the rugged beauty of Mexico and it’s people. He set up a studio in Tenancingo South of Mexico City near Taxco and began creating one of a kind jewelry and sculpture. He was the custodian of a collection of archeological Pre-Columbian stones, and it was from these he derived his motifs. His modern Primitive jewelry was considered to have the most feeling and the most authentic look of the Period. He worked throughout the 40s and 50s with copper, brass, steel, wood and leather. His work was admired and collected by some of the elite of Hollywood, including Barbara Hutton, Edward G. Robinson, James Cagny and Sammy Davis, Jr. His friends in Mexico, who also purchased his work included Diego Riviera, Freda Kahlo, J. C. Orosco and Miguel Covarrubias. His pieces were available in gift shops in Mexico City, Tlaquepaque, Morelia and Taxco. Beldin was also very interested in the nutritional needs of Mexico’s poor and with the help of a nutritionist in California developed a soybean-based food for children. He created comic books to teach the children about nutrition and gave some of the proceeds from his art sales to this cause. Dale Nichols, the well-known American artist, appreciated his work and created a pamphlet about him in 1952 launching his creations. These unique collectible pieces are being rediscovered now.