Mexican Jewelry

About Mexican Silver Jewelry

Silversmithing has been practiced for centuries in Mexico. In fact, Mexican silversmiths taught the Navajo of the Southwestern United States their trade. But it took an American named William Spratling to see the opportunity to build on this legacy. He did this in 1931, when he established a retail outlet for Mexican jewelry near the silver-mining center of Taxco.

Spratling’s designs borrowed liberally from pre-Columbian motifs found on Mexico’s pyramids and lifted from the 14th-century symbols that fill the Codex Zouche-Nuttal. It was open-source material, if you will, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that as his shop succeeded and imitators sprang up nearby, the designs themselves were appropriated. ...

Some competitors were actively encouraged. In fact, the Taxco School, as it is known today, was formed largely from former Spratling employees such as the Castillo brothers, Héctor Aguilar, Antonio Pineda, and Valentin Viadurreta, who brought a Mexican eye to Art Deco. Naturally, these artisans and their shops became incubators for still more generations of silversmiths.

For those who could not make the trip to Taxco, U.S. stores took the step of importing these popular goods. At one point everyone from fashionable Gump’s in San Francisco to Montgomery Ward in Chicago carried silver jewelry (some decorated with obsidian or amethysts) and tableware by Taxco designers.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview on Turn of the Century Jewelry Styles with Appraiser Joyce Jonas New!

I bought my first piece of jewelry—a gold ring with a big lapis stone propped on prongs—when I was about 12 with mo… [more]

An Interview With Fine Jewelry and Costume Jewelry Collector Christie Romero

I started out with general antiques and collectibles... I was a dealer for a while and bought and sold all kinds of… [more]

An Interview With Modernist Studio Jewelry Collector Marbeth Schon

My background is in fine art. My B.A. was in Art Education, so I started out as an art teacher. Later, I began work… [more]

An Interview with Arts and Crafts Jewelry Collector and Author Elyse Karlin

I started collecting jewelry when I was about 13 years old. I was very close to an interior designer who took me to… [more]

An Interview With Arts and Crafts Silver and Jewelry Collector Paul Somerson

How did I get started collecting Arts and Crafts silver? My wife and I had been collecting Arts and Crafts items as… [more]

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Mexican Silver Necklace And Earings$1,524 Ends Monday 13 bids 33 watchers
Margot De Taxco Vintage Sterling Overlay Necklace$393.00 Ends in 10 hours 9 bids 29 watchers
Sterling Mexican & Turquoise More Jewelry Lot 610 Gram$304.99 Ends in 14 hours 8 bids 16 watchers
Mexican Sterling Bird Of Paradise Jade Bone Huge Brooch$300.00 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Vintage Rare Taxco Mexican Silver Los Castillo Necklace$260.00 Ends in 17 hours 16 bids 49 watchers
Rare Margot De Taxco Sterling Silver & Enamel Necklace$247.50 Ends in 15 hours 4 bids 25 watchers
Old Mexican Sterling & Turquoise Necklace & Bracelet$242.50 Ends Monday 3 bids 21 watchers
Vintage Mexico Mexican Silver Floral Etruscan Bracelet$202.50 Ends Monday 25 bids 53 watchers
Vntg Mexico Mexican Silver Etruscan Sautoir Necklace$200.00 Ends Sunday 7 bids 19 watchers
14 Kt Gold 1945 Mexico Mexican Peso Coin Necklace Chain$180.27 Ends Wednesday 21 bids 14 watchers
Old 970 Silver Taxco Heavy 250g Signed Cascade Necklace$163.50 Ends in 16 hours 6 bids 20 watchers
Sigi Pineda Taxco Mexico Mexican Silver Deco Necklace$151.00 Ends in 17 hours 12 bids 38 watchers
Dramatic Wide Taxco Mexican Silver Red Jasper Bracelet$150.49 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 24 watchers
Huge Modernist Sterling Silver Mexican Necklace 190 Gm$142.50 Ends in 16 hours 2 bids 19 watchers
Monteros 970 Silver Sterling Taxco Mexico Bracelet Nice$138.50 Ends Monday 6 bids 32 watchers
Taxco Lopez Fleurdelis Sterling Necklace & Bracelet Set$137.50 Ends Monday 6 bids 28 watchers
Vintage Huge Old Taxco Mexican Silver "aar" Bracelet$125.38 Ends Monday 18 bids 72 watchers
Vint 950 Silver Taxco Mexico Multi Stone Set Necklace$113.49 Ends in 16 hours 11 bids 25 watchers
Vintage Oval Link Heavy Sterling Toggle Bracelet Mexico$107.50 Ends in 9 hours 5 bids 13 watchers
Mexican Turquoise Coral &.925 Silver Necklace $104.10 Ends Monday 7 bids 9 watchers
Old Villasana Sterling Silver Mexican Clamper Bracelet$103.50 Ends in 19 hours 13 bids 27 watchers
Vint Sterling Taxco Mex Erika Hult De Corral Bracelet$103.49 Ends Monday 16 bids 18 watchers
3 Polished Green Mexican Amber Pieces, Gem-grade, 53 G$101.00 Ends in 17 hours 3 bids 7 watchers
Huge Old 112g Taxco Sterling Los Ballesteros Bracelet $100.99 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 35 watchers
Ruby Ramirez Taxco 980 Sterling Choker Necklace 153g$100.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 9 watchers
14 Kt Mexican Pesos Ring$100.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 2 watchers
Vintage Mexican Silver Necklace, Bracelet, And Earrings$99.00 Ends in 13 hours 12 bids 30 watchers
Sterling Los Castillo Taxco Piggy Bank Brooch Pig Pin $99.00 Ends in 10 hours 6 bids 26 watchers
Vintage Mexico Sterling Silver Handmade Chain Necklace$89.00 Ends in 8 hours 2 bids 21 watchers
Huge Vint Sterling Taxco Mex Heavy Domed Dot Bracelet $80.00 Ends Thursday 9 bids 20 watchers
Vintage Signed Sterling Silver Mexico Bracelet Necklace$79.00 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid 33 watchers
Gorgeous Vnt Taxco Sterling Link Collar Necklace 18 In$76.00 Ends in 16 hours 38 bids 15 watchers
Rm69 - Old Stock - Sagenite Agate - Mexico 9.6 Lbs -nr$75.00 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Vint 950 Silver Taxco Mexico Amethyst Tulip Bracelet $73.98 Ends in 16 hours 13 bids 19 watchers
Los Ballesteros Mexican Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet$73.32 Ends in 18 hours 11 bids 28 watchers
1930's Mexico Mexican Silver Red Art Glass Earrings$72.99 Ends Tuesday 11 bids 39 watchers
Heavy Modernist Sterling Silver Mexican Bracelet Taxco$72.00 Ends in 16 hours 4 bids 40 watchers
Massive Taxco Mexican Sterling Silver Art Deco Necklace$71.05 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 20 watchers
Margot Taxco Silver Bracelet Hallmarks Nouveau Style $71.00 Ends in 16 hours 7 bids 17 watchers
Vint Sterling Taxco Sigi Pendant Antonio Pineda Chain $71.00 Ends Monday 23 bids 56 watchers
Huge Bold Vintage Mexican Silver Amethyst Bracelet Wow!$71.00 Ends in 17 hours 8 bids 38 watchers
Vintage Solid Silver Mexico Huge Signed Jade Bracelet $69.00 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 18 watchers
Vint Heavy 280g Sterling Mexico Massive Tane Necklace $69.00 Ends Thursday 6 bids 36 watchers
Los Ballesteros Taxco Mexican Silver Obsidian Necklace$67.09 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 30 watchers
Vintage Mexico Silver Ring~native American/aztec Chief$67.00 Ends in 12 hours 5 bids 24 watchers
Rare! 1950s Signed Sigi Pineda Mexican Silver Bracelet$61.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 12 watchers
Vintage Sterling Taxco Mex Signed Blue Glass Bracelet $61.00 Ends in 16 hours 16 bids 20 watchers
Pedro Castillo Vntg Taxco Mexico Mexico Silver Earrings$61.00 Ends Monday 6 bids 52 watchers
Taxco Mexican Sterling Silver Beaded Necklace Mexico$60.01 Ends in 15 hours 14 bids 33 watchers
Amazing Antique Sterling Silver Mexico Spiral Necklace$59.99 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid 13 watchers
Rare Margo De Taxco Sterling Silver & Enamel Bracelet$59.88 Ends in 15 hours 4 bids 13 watchers
Pre-1948 Los Castillo Mexico 59.3 Gram Cuff Bracelet$59.00 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 14 watchers
Vintage Los Castillo Sterling #634 Large Mexican Brooch$58.50 Ends in 13 hours 5 bids 19 watchers
Fabulous! Old 1940's Mexico Green Agate Turtle Bracelet$56.00 Ends in 12 hours 19 bids 22 watchers
Vintage Mexican Silver Necklace And Earrings$56.00 Ends in 13 hours 4 bids 32 watchers
Art Deco Silver-mexican Fire Opal Dress Clip-pendant!!$55.56 Ends in 2 hours 3 bids 25 watchers
Ledesma~taxco Mexican Silver~modernist 3d Fish Pin Xlnt$53.79 Ends in 20 hours 4 bids 23 watchers
Very Nice Mexican Fire Opal 14k Gold Ring 6.5g/size 10$53.00 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 37 watchers

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Recent News: Mexican Jewelry

Source: Google News

Semana Santa aliviará a firmas
Excélsior, March 19th

Sin embargo, los coloniales como San Miguel de Allende, Zacatecas, Taxco o Querétaro también gustan a los paseantes. La estimación de ocupación del centro...Read more

Unions ask Norway's Govt. Pension Fund to drop Grupo Mexico holdings
Mineweb, March 16th

SNTMMSRM members at three Grupo Mexico mines (Cananea, Taxco and Sombrete) have been on strike since July 30, 2007, reportedly to protest unsafe working...Read more

Semana Santa en Taxco
Diario de México, March 16th

Guerrero es más que playas, también celebra la Semana Santa; sí, allá en Taxco, un lugar oculto entre montañas, cerros, barrancos y, por supuesto, plata,...Read more

Jewelry show will feature Taxco silver
West Milford Messenger, March 12th

A special exhibit will feature Taxco silver jewelry from 1940 to 1970. The vintage jewelry of Taxco, Mexico is from the workshops of such artisans as...Read more

Home again!
About - News & Issues (blog), March 11th

We traveled well over a thousand miles through Mexico, from Mexico City to Puebla, Oaxaca, Puerto Angel, Puerto Escondido, Acapulco, Taxco and back to...Read more

Pine Bush Auction
Antiques and the Arts Online, March 8th

lots of sterling Mexican jewelry, cigarette lighters, buttons, wrist watches, pocket watches, religious jewelry, gents jewelry, garnet heart locket,...Read more

Smuggler admits secreting dozens of guns into Mexico
Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 4th

By JAMES WALSH, Star Tribune Twenty times over three years, Paul Giovanni de la Rosa made the long drive from Medford, Minn., to Taxco, Mexico,...Read more

La plata de Taxco
La Nueva España, February 26th

POR CAROLINA G. MENÉNDEZ Taxco es de color plata. La ciudad mexicana del Estado de Guerrero tiene en este metal la base de su economía...Read more

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