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@loscastillotaxco.bsky.social

1 year ago

A large vintage 1950s Los Castillo Taxco ‘metales casados’ Mexican modernist geometric design tray - the tray has been given a hammered treatment at top, and the metales casados is in three metals, copper and silver, and a third metal that has been given a dark patina - I’m not sure exactly what the third metal is, but the patina has worn in a few small spots and it looks like possibly a brass or bronze alloy, but I can’t say for sure. This round tray measures 11.5” diameter, and weighs almost 30 ounces. Marked at back as shown, design number “162”, “Los Castillo Taxco” in a circle, and “Metales Castillo”. The tray was also given a clear lacquer coating that is still evident at back but mostly worn away on top. Note on the ‘Metales Castillo” mark: on their earliest married metal pieces, Los Castillo marked them ‘metales casados’. However, they were unable to copyright or patent protect the term, and it was being used widely by copycats knocking off their designs, so they coined the mark, “Metales Castillo” which they were able to copyright and this became one of the marks found on their married metals pieces in the 1950s and 60s. Sometimes, pieces by Los Castillo only have the ‘Metales Castillo’ mark without the other marks, but since this mark was only used by Los Castillo, it’s a pretty sure indication that the item is genuine.

marks at back of the Los Castillo 'metales casados" tray

A large 1950s 'Metales Castillo' tray designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco.

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