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.
A BOHEMIAN'S MEXICAN SILVER LEGACY is a brief article about William Spratling and vintage Mexican silver, published in BusinessWeek.
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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NEW Mexican STERLING SILVER EARRINGS TAXCO vintage look
Current Bid: $11.99
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CARAL, VTG MEXICO MEXICAN SILVER FLOWER TRAY
Current Bid: $180.00
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VINTAGE LONG MEXICAN STERLING SILVER EARRINGS GUATEMALA
Current Bid: $95.00
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VTG 1940s TAXCO MEXICAN STERLING SILVER NECKLACE CAMEO
Current Bid: $129.99
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PLATA VILLA OLD TAXCO VTG MEXICAN SILVER BELL
Current Bid: $150.00
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VINTAGE MEXICAN SILVER & MALACHITE BRACELET LK ANTONIO
Current Bid: $1800.00
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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: $22.95
List Price: $24.95 |
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Mexican Silver: Modern Handwrought Jewelry & Metalwork (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Price: $40.46
List Price: $59.95 |
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Spratling Silver
Price: $60.25
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: $32.95
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 2004
Vintage Mexican Silver Blog
- Popular vintage Mexican silver jewelry auctions this week
Here are some of the most watched auctions for vintage Mexican silver jewelry on eBay this week. Includes a nice necklace and earrings set by Sigi Pineda! - 3 days ago
- Vintage Mexican silver – Los Castillo earrings
Los Castillo is one of the great silver families of Taxco. The business was begun by the four Castillo brothers, who originally worked with William Spratling. They were known for their revival of ancient techniques such as the fusing of different metals and were innovative designers of sterling, mixed metal and other pieces. Don Antonio [...] - 5 days ago
Vintage Mexican silver selections from The Vintage Silver Shop
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MEXICO MACIEL MEXICAN SILVER STERLING LARGE PIE SERVER
Current Bid: $180.00
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OLD MEXICO MEXICAN SILVER COFFEE BEAN ART DECO BRACELET
Current Bid: $185.00
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REVERI CASTILLO TAXCO MEXICAN SILVER STERLING MODERNIST
Current Bid: $125.00
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MARGOT DE TAXCO MEXICAN SILVER STERLING BLUE BRACELET
Current Bid: $975.00
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OLD TAXCO MEXICAN SILVER STERLING HUGE NECKLACE 106 GRM
Current Bid: $225.00
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OLD TAXCO MEXICAN SILVER STERLING QUETZALCOATL BRACELET
Current Bid: $285.00
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Taxco - Mexico's silver capital
Taxco Silver In The News
- Show us your jewelry box - DesMoinesRegister.com
Show us your jewelry box DesMoinesRegister.com Blue /silver triangle necklace: Bartecki got this necklace in Taxco, Mexico during a trip in 2007. "Taxco is known for its silver," Bartecki... - 7 days ago
- Grupo Mexico labor woes costing billions, USW says - American Metal Market
Grupo Mexico labor woes costing billions, USW says American Metal Market By the union's calculations, if ongoing strikes at Grupo Mexico's Cananea open-pit copper mine, Taxco... - 3 weeks ago
- OLeary Antiques Auction - Antiques and Arts Weekly
Antiques and Arts Weekly OLeary Antiques Auction Antiques and Arts Weekly Jewelry: Edward Oakes Arts & Craft 14Kt. bracelet, platinum & diamond earrings, Vacheron & constantin platinum... - 3 weeks ago
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15 months ago
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