Antique and Vintage Mexican Silver

10 Famous Names in Mexican Silver

• Frederick Davis was an American designer who worked in Mexico City in the 1920s and 1930s. His use of native materials and the way in which he blended contemporary American and European designs with indigenous motifs set the stage for those who later became known as The Taxco School.
• American-born architect William Spratling was was responsible for reviving Mexico's silver industry in the late 1920s and had a strong influence on Mexican silver design in the 20th century. Spratling became known as the "Father of Mexican Silver." He convinced local artisans to use silver from area mines for jewelry (until then they used it only for utilitarian objects) and thus helped established Taxco as a center for making jewelry.
• Margot de Taxco (Margot van Voorhies Carr) played an important role in bringing attention to Taxco silver. Arriving in Mexico in 1937 she met and married Don Antonio Castillo of Los Castillo. He encouraged her, and many of the early Los Castillo designs reflect her contribution. Margot eventually divorced Castillo, became famous (especially for her use of enamel on silver), and was a favorite of many Hollywood celebrities of her time.
• Los Castillo was owned by the four Castillo brothers. They were known for their revival of ancient techniques such as the fusing of different metals. Quite a few of the designers and artisans who went on to become famous began their careers with Los Castillo.
• Salvador Teran was a cousin of the Castillos (and worked for them) and another Spratling employee. Teran's jewelry is known for its whimsical style and was more influenced by contemporary art than Spratling or Los Castillos.
• Victoria was the trade name of Ana Maria Nunez de Brilanti, who had a small workshop in Taxco. She is believed to have introduced the married metals technique to Taxco.
• Hector Aguilar once served as Spratling's shop manager. Aguilar, known for his bold design, was one of the most important designers of Mexican sterling silver jewelry, holloware, and flatware. His workshop, Taller Borda, had a reputation for good design and high quality.
• Sigi Pineda worked in Margot de Taxco's shop when he was a young man. Pineda's work incorporated both American and Scandinavian influences yet is clearly Mexican. He is considered one of the great artisans of Taxco.
• Antonio Pineda, the legendary Mexican modernist jewelry designer, was one of Spratling's proteges. He died, at the age of 90, in December 2009. Learn more about this great maestro here.
• Pedro Perez, former manager of William Spratling's Taller de Las Delicias, opened Plateria Rancho Alegre in 1956. Rancho Alegre designed, produced and sold its own jewelry and became an outlet for other designers and silversmiths as well - by the 1960s Rancho Alegre had become one of the largest retailers of Mexican silver, with tourists arriving in droves. Plateria Rancho Alegre closed in 1985.