Antique and Vintage Mexican Silver
77Antique and Vintage Mexican Silver
From the distant precolumbian past to modern times, Mexican silverware lays claim to a long and fertile tradition.
Mexico has long been one of the great silver-producing countries. As a result, and not surprisingly, its artists and silversmiths have created everything from stunning jewelry and intricately designed religious objects to highly collectible coins and exquisite silverware for the table. Many people are Mexican silver enthusiasts these days, and quite a few galleries and eBay sellers offer fine examples of Mexican silver art and craft, old and new.
Some of the legendary names collectors look for are William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Antonio Pineda, Sigi Pineda, Hector Aguilar, Los Castillo, Victoria, Ana Brilante, Cony, Tono, Salvador Teran, Frederick Davis, Los Ballesteros, to name just a few.
This is a tribute to the history, beauty, and craftsmanship of antique and vintage Mexican silver. I hope you enjoy it!
Vintage Mexican Silverware and Silver Jewelry Resources
Here are some Tips to help you when you want to buy vintage Mexican silver jewelry
William Spratling was a talented designer of Mexican jewelry, silver hollowware, tin, copper, and furniture, and he established the model for the Mexican silver industry. You can learn more about him here.
Here is a good overview of Taxco silver jewelry by a collector and dealer of Mexican silver jewelry.
Several wonderful pieces of vintage Mexican jewelry have been shown on PBS' Antiques Roadshow. A mid-20th century Jose de Rivera silver pin was appraised in a 2006 episode that you can watch here. A suite consisting of a necklace, pendant, pin, earrings and bracelet by Margot de Taxco ca. 1955 was appraised in a 2005 episode. Watch it here.
Antonio Pineda, the legendary Mexican modernist jewelry designer, gave this interview in 2000 while visiting Los Angeles. Photographs of some of his jewelry designs are included. You can read an interview with Sigi Pineda and see wonderful photographs of his work here.
Images of Vintage Mexican Silver Jewelry
More Resources
The Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks has a good section on Mexican Silver Marks & Makers' Marks.
You'll also find separate sections for William Spratling hallmarks, Hector Aguilar hallmarks, Antonio Pineda hallmarks, and Los Castillo hallmarks. And, you can see examples of the beautiful silver pieces created by many of the great silversmiths of Mexico, including Margot de Taxco and Carmen Beckmann, and Salvador Teran.
eBay member sugarb5 has written an eBay Guide called Vintage Mexican Silver Jewelry and Holloware. Another eBay member, qazxz1219, has a guide as well: Mexican Sterling Silver Jewelry.
Modern Silver is an online magazine about modern silver jewelry, metal arts and objects, and allied decorative arts items. Use its search function to find articles and information about vintage Mexican silver, and join its Silver Forum for discussions about silver.
If you are looking for information about specific jewelry terms, visit the Glossary at the American Society of Jewelry Historians.
Willliam Spratling Collection
Vintage Mexican Silver on eBay
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VINTAGE JOSE LUIS FLORES EMMA MEXICAN SILVER TIE CLIP
Current Bid: $9.99
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VINTAGE MEXICAN 925 SILVER & FIRE AGATE RING
Current Bid: $42.95
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Vintage Mexican Sterling Silver Modern Clip Earrings
Current Bid: $39.99
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3 VINTAGE MEXICAN STERLING SILVER BRACELETS~BECKMANN
Current Bid: $96.02
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Vintage Mexican Silver & Green Agate Stone Ring 6 1/2
Current Bid: $8.00
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VINTAGE MEXICAN SILVER SPRATLING-LIKE AMETHYST NECKLACE
Current Bid: $450.00
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Taxco Mexico Silver Articulated Fish Bottle Opener
Good resource books available from Amazon
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The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks
Price: $23.95
List Price: $24.95 |
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Mexican Silver: Modern Handwrought Jewelry & Metalwork (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Price: $39.87
List Price: $59.95 |
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Spratling Silver
Price: $60.61
List Price: $50.00 |
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Spratling Silver: A Field Guide : Recognizing a William Spratling Treasure
Price: $44.95
List Price: $39.95 |
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Silver Masters of Mexico, Hector Aguilar and the Taller Borda: Hector Aguilar and the Taller Borda
Price: $36.68
List Price: $49.95 |
Bibliography
Mexican Jewelry, Mary L. Davis and Greta Pack, University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, 1982
Mexican Silver, Penny Chittim Morrill and Carole A. Berk, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA, 1994 Mexican Silver, exhibition catalog from Europalia 93 Mexican Silver exhibit, Museum voor Sierkunst, Gent, Belgium, 25 September-12 December 1993 Silver Masters of Mexico, Penny Chittim Morrill, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen PA, 1996 Spratling Silver: A Field Guide (Recognizing a William Spratling Treasure), Phyllis M. Goddard, Keenan Tyler Paine 2003 The Color of Silver: William Spratling His Life and Art, Taylor D. Littleton, Louisiana State University Press, 2000 The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks, Second Edition, Bille Hougart, TBR International, Inc. 2006. The 2nd edition of the bestselling reference guide to identifying Mexican silver contains images and graphics of over 1500 marks of silver makers, designers, manufacturers and silver houses in Taxco and throughout Mexico. The Silver Gringo, Joan Mark, University of New Mexico Press, 2000 William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance, Penny C. Morrill, Harry N. Abrams Inc., 2002 William Spratling and the Taxco School, by Monica Clare McLaughlin, published by Jewelers Circular Keystone in 2004Vintage Mexican Silver Blog
- Reveriano Castillo (Reveri), another Mexican silver Maestro
It’s a fine thing, having so many Mexican silver maestros from which to choose! One who is very interesting is Reveriano Castillo. Castillo began his apprenticeship with William Spratling at Taller de Las Delicias in Taxco in 1934 and worked there until 1939. He then joined Taller Borda, established by Hector Aguilar the same year. Reveriano’s wife Maria worked for Los [...] - 10 hours ago
- A safe and fun-filled Independence Day to you!
I hope you have a really enjoyable and safe 4th of July!! - 6 days ago
Selections from The Mexican Silver Shop
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MARICELA TAXCO MEXICAN SILVER STERLING DECO BRACELET
Current Bid: $35.05
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OLD TAXCO MEXICO MEXICAN SILVER STERLING HEAVY NECKLACE
Current Bid: $165.00
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TAXCO MEXICO MEXICAN STERLING SILVER TOBIAS BRACELET
Current Bid: $95.00
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OLD TAXCO MEXICO MEXICAN SILVER STERLING AMETHYST PIN
Current Bid: $95.00
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VINTAGE TAXCO MEXICO MEXICAN SILVER OBSIDIAN BRACELET
Current Bid: $95.00
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MIGUEL TAXCO MEX MEXICAN STERLING SILVER BIRD NECKLACE
Current Bid: $95.00
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Taxco Silver In The News
- My Life In Travel: Edith Bowman, TV presenter - Independent
My Life In Travel: Edith Bowman, TV presenter Independent We stayed in one in Taxco, a silver mining town towards the south of the country. Until I stayed there, one thing I#39;d never had in my... - 2 weeks ago
- Undermining Mexico - CounterPunch
Undermining Mexico CounterPunch At this writing, several thousand union miners are on strike at mines in Sombrerete Zacatecas and Taxco Guerrero in addition to Cananea. ... - 3 weeks ago
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11 months ago
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