Pelican pitcher
hammered silverplate, stone inlay
Los Castillo, Taxco
#handmade #hammered #silverplate #stoneinlay #pelicanpitcher #jarradepelicano #loscastillotaxco #mexicansilver #mexicandesign #chatocastillodesign #pelican #pelicano #taxco #taxcosilver #loscastillosilver
Two views of a metales casados (married metals) box by Los Castillo c. 1950s - measures 7.5" by 5" by 2" tall - lined with rosewood.
No doubt a Chato Castillo design featuring an Aztec ritual sacrifice in sterling, copper, and brass at top.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #box #art #taxco
Items like the mask below were no doubt at least part of the inspiration for the 'mosaico azteca' mosaic stone inlay invented by Chato Castillo in the 1940s.
Los Castillo 'mosaico aztec' bird brooch circa 1950.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #mosaicoazteca #mosaicstoneinlay #brooch #art
Two modernist tie clips tie bars designed by Chato Castillo in the 1950s for the family firm, Los Castillo in Taxco. One of the greatest Mexican technical innovators in the 20th century, Chato was also a talented designer! Like many artists of his generation, Chato took much inspiration from the pre-Columbian cultures of ancient Mexico, and their artifacts that were still to be found strewn throughout much of the country. In Pre-Columbian Mexico, snakes (serpents) were powerful symbols of fertility, rebirth, agricultural renewal, and the connection between the earthly underworld and the heavens. They represented duality, often embodying the merging of earth and sky as seen in the deity Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. The top example is in 'Metales Castillo' (married metals) in copper and sterling, and the bottom example is in all sterling. Top example measures 2.25" wide by 1.25" Bottom example measures 2.25" wide by 5/8". Both have 1950s marks for Los Castilo in Taxco, top is design number '79', and the bottom is design number '166'. Note on Los Castillo design numbers. They are not necessarily sequential. They varied by materials used, time period of origin, and by the designer. You cannot date a Los Castillo piece based solely on the design number.
Two modernist Snake tie clips by Los Castillo c.1950s - top in copper and sterling, the bottom example in all sterling silver - both are 2.25" across, the top is 1.25" wide, the bottom is 5/8" wide.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #handmade #mexico #tieclips #tiebars #metalescastillo #silver
The design employs his 'onix negro' and 'mosaico azteca' inlay techniques to form two opposing 'hands'. One hand is primarily black onyx with a circle of azurmalachite inlay in the palm, and the other hand is the reverse primarily azurmalachite with a circle of onyx in the palm. The size, the brilliant color, the striking surrealist hand design, the rarity of this design. It's a masterpiece from his final few years! Materials: bronze, onyx, azurmalachite mosaic inlay The only example of this design that I have seen. Chato was greatly influenced by the modern art movements of his time including cubism and surrealism, and this design shows his fascination with the human hand. Marked "Los Castillo Taxco" and design number "11" at back.
A very large Chato Castillo design bronze belt buckle for Los Castillo circa 1970 - measures 4.5" across by 3" tall!
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #beltbuckle #modernism #midcenturymexico #handmade #jewelry #jewelrydesign #mexicandesign #design #vintagemodern #mexicanmodernism #art #hand
Here's a #metalescasados (married metals) and #mosaicoazteca stone inlay Fisherman Casting his Nets #mexicanmodernist #brooch by #chatocastillodesign for #loscastillotaxco
#handmade #copper #brass #silver #azurmalachite #mexicansilver #taxco #mexicanjewelry #modernism #design #wearableart #art #pin
A colorful Los Castillo sterling silver and 'mosaico azteca' stone inlay modernist ring designed by Chato Castillo c. 1950.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #taxco #mexicansilver #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico #silver #mosaicoazteca #stoneinlay #ring #modernistjewelry #wearableart #art
A super rare Los Castillo Taxco handmade sterling silver & amethyst Mexican modernist earrings & ring set designed by Chato Castillo c. 1955.
Available...
www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...
#handmade #loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #mexico #modernism #wearableart #mcm #art #jewelrydesign
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes! This cigarette box was made by the Los Castillo workshop in Taxco circa 1970s. It is composed of malachite and azurite 'mosaico azteca' stone inlay over silver and copper 'metales casados' metalworking in the lid. The bottom section of the box is Mexican redwood with a silver frame. Marked 'Handwrought' 'Los Castillo' and 'Mexico'. It measures 7-3/8'W X 3-1/2''D X 1-3/8"T and weighs 1lb.8oz. A Chato Castillo design for the family workshop Los Castillo in Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico.
An iconic Los Castillo handmade silver wood and stone inlay 'smoking' box designed by Chato Castillo c.1970s
#handmade #loscastillotaxco #mexicansilver #mosaicoazteca #metalescasados #smoking #box #mcm #midcenturymexico #modernism #mexicanmodernism #hechoenmexico #taxcosilver #chatocastillodesign
A 'metales casados' and 'mosaico azteca' Leaf design brooch by Los Castillo circa 1960.
Measures roughly 1.75" each side.
Marked "Los Castillo Taxco", "Cooperativa SCL", "Hecho en Mexico", and "324".
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #metalescasados #hechoenmexico #mosaicoazteca #handmade
An incredible one of a kind vintage 1960s handmade 'metales casados' (married metals) and pre-Columbian ancient pre-Columbian carved green stone Mayan ear spool Mexican modernist bracelet with dangles - designed by Chato Castillo, and produced by the Los Castillo workshop - from a series by Los Castillo of similar bracelets with ancient ear spools and dangles - each in the series is unique and one of a kind, but this bracelet is an exceptional example with a dragon emerging from the center of the ancient green stone carving - marked as shown in the photos "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle above "Hecho en Mexico" - fits up to about a 7.5" wrist and measures over 4" at front from top to bottom as shown!
A unique one of a kind vintage 1960s Los Castillo Taxco handmade 'metales casados' (married metals) and ancient pre-Columbian green stone ear spool Mexican modernist bracelet with dangles.
#loscastillotaxco #mexicanmodernism #taxco #mexicansilver #chatocastillodesign #handmade #oneofakind #bracelet
A spectacular no doubt one of a kind Los Castillo Taxco 'metales casados' Mexican modernist necklace with a pre-Columbian jade 'bird head' carving at center front!
Designed by Chato Castillo circa 1955.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #oneofakind #necklace #precolumbianjade #mexicansilver
A Chato Castillo 'cubist musician' design sterling silver brooch for Los Castillo Taxco circa 1955 - measures 2.5" tall, marked "Los Castillo Taxco Hecho en Mexico" with design number 104, and the Eagle 15.
#chatocastillodesign #loscastillotaxco #handmade #mexicansilver #cubistmusician #brooch #art
A one of a kind sculpture by Chato Castillo - a three dimensional version of his iconic ‘perfil de perico’ aka cubist parrot jewelry design that won him the first prize in the Taxco Silver Fair in 1952 - this sculpture was also a prototype for salt and pepper shakers later made by Los Castillo - the shakers are quite rare, I’ve only seen one example and they didn’t come with a stand like this sculpture - and are extremely work intensive thus expensive, and no doubt very few were ever made - techniques include metales casados (married metals) using silver copper and brass and mosaica azteca (aztec mosaic) stone inlay, in this case malachite inlay - the gilt brass ‘feet’ of the sculpture have prongs that stick down into the wood base to hold it in place - this sculpture measures 5.75” tall including the wood base which is 3.25” by 3.25” square by 1.25” thick, and weighs almost 12 ounces - marked on the underside as shown in my last photo with his most common signature “Chato Castillo” and “Taxco Mexico” on either side of his cubist parrot logo mark.
A Chato Castillo prototype sculpture version of the very rare Parrot design salt and pepper shakers from 1940 - the prototype on the left - one of the shakers beside the original sketch by Chato on the right.
#loscastillotaxco #handmade #parrot #perfildeperico #chatocastillodesign #taxco #sculpture
First created by Chato Castillo in 1943, this design is a perennial favorite of fans of Mexican modernist design and of Los Castillo. I've seen examples of it in many different sizes and with many different color stones for 'eyes', and from every decade from the 1940s to the 1990s!
A classic Chato Castillo design for Los Castillo in Taxco in married metals with black onyx 'eye' - original design from 1943!
#chatocastillodesign #loscastillotaxco #taxco #metalescasados #marriedmetals #bird #tray #mexicanmodernism #metalsmith #midcenturymexico #mexicansilver #taxcosilver #plata
A Chato Castillo modernist brooch design for Los Castillo circa 1955 - measures 2.25" by 1.75", and weighs 29 grams - marked "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15, and design #162.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #mexicanmodernism #wearableart #brooch #art #modernistjewelry
Chato Castillo was one of the four founding brothers of Los Castillo in Taxco, Mexico, in 1939. He was a silversmith, a designer, and a technical innovator who invented many unique metalworking techniques including: 'metales casados' (married metals), 'mosaico azteca' (mosaic stone inlay), the 'pluma azteca' (feather inlay), among others! His techniques were widely copied by other silversmiths and designers throughout Mexico, and became emblematic of the Mexican mid-century modernist style! Although many other designers in Mexico used pre-Columbian artifacts in their creations, Chato found new and unique ways of doing so, and this bracelet is an excellent example! Composed of metales casados (copper and brass) over sterling silver, and centering a pre-Columbian green stone ear spool at center top from which drops a triangular metals casados plaque with size copper and bronze drops. This particular design was made in many variations over the years by Chato, and his brother Antonio after Chato's death, but each was unique - no two were exactly the same!
A Los Castillo Taxco married metals and pre Columbian green stone ear-spool bracelet with dangles - designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo circa 1960.
#handmade #metalescastillo #metalescasados #marriedmetals #precolumbian #mexicansilver #mexicanjewelry #loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign
Two trinket boxes by Los Castillo featuring an Aries the Ram design - upper example in brass inlaid with azurmalachite - bottom example in sterling inlaid with black onyx inlaid with sterling - both designs by Chato Castillo circa 1960.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #box #taxco #aries #ram
A superb vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver and 'onix negro' (black onyx stone inlay) Mexican modernist necklace designed by Chato Castillo for the Los Castillo atelier in Taxco. Superb design and immaculate craftsmanship make this necklace a stunning piece of wearable Mexican art! Chato was not only a talented designer, but also a technical wizard, and he invented most of the new metal and stone working techniques that became signature for Los Castillo in the 1940s and 1950s, and much copied but never equaled by many of their competitors! The 'onix negro' technique involved the precise and seamless inlay of black onyx into silver channels creating a high-contrast design that really stood out when worn! The pendant is a little different featuring a silver setting and bezel into which black onyx is laid, then carved out at top to fit in the silver pieces once again precisely and seamlessly, and which are attached to the silver setting with a single rivet that can be seen on the backside. This example is one of my favorites by him using this metalworking technique, and seems to be based on a pre-Columbian, probably Mayan, glyph most likely found in ancient architecture in Mexico. The Castillo family were all great admirers of their pre-Hispanic heritage, and often created designs based on those examples. This necklace measures about 15" wearable with a 2" drop at front, and almost 5/8" wide around the neck. It weighs 3.2 ounces or roughly 91 grams total. Marked at back as shown, "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15, and "Onix Negro Hecho en Mexico" and design number "42" in the Onix Negro line, making this one of the earlier designs using this technique. Excellent vintage condition.
close up and from the side view of the 'onix negro' necklace designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo circa 1950 - hand crafted from sterling silver with black onyx inlay
From the 'onix negro' line of jewelry created by Chato Castillo in the late 1940s for Los Castillo in Taxco, Mexico, but this example from the 1950s.
Available...
www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #onixnegro #necklace #mexicansilver #wearableart #handmade
Vintage Los Castillo Taxco brass geometric modernist Azur-malachite stone inlay brooch circa 1970s. • Size: 2 1/8" wide x 1 7/8" tall • Stamped: LOS CASTILLO TAXCO HECHO EN MEXICO 137 • Gross Weight: 26.9 Grams This vintage brass Los Castillo Taxco brooch features a chunky triple triangle form with blue-green Azurite stone inlay. Measuring 2 1/8" wide by 1 7/8" tall, brooch is stamped LOS CASTILLO TAXCO HECHO EN MEXICO 137 and finished with a pin stem and safety catch.
Vintage 1970s Los Castillo Taxco handmade brass and azurmalachite stone inlay geometric Mexican modernist brooch - designed by Chato Castillo - see ALT for measurements etc.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #handmade #mexicanjewelry #modernistjewelry #hechoenmexico #mexicandesign #jewelry
In pre-Columbian cultures, snakes held significant symbolic importance, often representing life, fertility, rebirth, and the connection between earth, sky, and underworld. Snakes were revered as messengers of the gods, symbols of healing, and even associated with the creation of the universe. One of the most prominent examples is the Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent deity, a central figure in Mesoamerican mythology. The Brothers Castillo were big pre-Columbian collectors, and in those days there were few if any laws regarding the acquisition or sale of ancient Mesoamerican relics. Many of their designs were inspired by ancient Aztec Mayan or Olmec objects, though they were translated into their modernist aesthetic and using modern construction techniques and materials. In this case, Chato used metales casados (married metals) to combine three metals (sterling, copper, brass) seamlessly in the design. He also used onix negro (black onyx) and sodalite stone inlay.
Considering the design, the materials and construction techniques, and the marks at back, I'm circa dating this brooch/pendant to the late 1950s to early 1960s. Besides "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle, the brooch is also marked "Hecho en Mexico" (Made in Mexico), design number "36", the Eagle 3, and "SMM925". In the late 1950s to early 1960s, there was labor unrest in Taxco, and even the great workshops like Los Castillo had difficulties staying solvent at the time. The Eagle 3 is not their regular Eagle mark, but the general mark for Taxco that was used by hundreds of shops, and the "SMM925" mark probably means that Los Castillo had this brooch made by the silversmith "SMM" of 925 sterling silver for them when their main workshops were closed due to the strikes.
A Quetzalcoatl feathered snake deity design brooch/pendant by Los Castillo circa 1960 - designed by Chato and constructed of metales casados (sterling, copper, brass) with black onyx and sodalite stone inlay.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #metalescasados #onixnegro #quetzalcoatl #brooch
A rare vintage 1940s Chato Castillo blued iron with brass inlay Mexican modernist Fishermen with dangling Fish design brooch - charming design of three fishermen in a boat with three dangling fish below - Chato called this metalworking technique ‘metal pintura’ (painting with metal) - this example was cut out of iron then given a bath in chemicals that gave it that dark peacock blue/purple sheen, and with inlaid brass wire to outline the design - marked “Chato Castillo Taxco Mexico” with Chato’s ‘perfil de perico’ mark (based on his famous award-winning design from 1953), and design number 1 (the very first !?!) - measures roughly 2” wide by 2” tall, and weighs 12.8 grams total. PLEASE NOTE: NEVER clean examples of this type of work by Chato or Los Castillo unless you are very sure what you are doing. They are made out of iron/steel, and will rust. Also, the blue-ing is too easily removed by overzealous cleaning!
One last example of 'metal pintura, a wall-hanging artwork of a Fire Eater circus performer, designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco - in this case a sheet of steel was inlaid with copper, silver, and brass then given a chemical wash to color the steel blue ('acero pavonado') while leaving the other metals untouched - this panel measures 11" tall by 6" across, and is marked at front with inlaid brass signature "Chato Castillo".
Another rarity in the 'metal pintura' line designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco circa 1945-50 - this pair of candleholders stand 11" tall by about 8" across, and the pair weigh about 5 pounds - a very deep blue color this pair are handmade in 'fierro pavonado' (blued iron), and they are each a little sculpture to decorate the home!
Chato called these pieces "metal pintura" (painting with metal), and they did a number of variations of it - this example is 'fierro pavonado' (blued iron), which is wrought iron with a chemical wash to turn it dark blue - in this case there were small silver stars inlaid throughout, and the design resembles a clear starry night - this example a bit over 14" in diameter. I've seen other examples with inlaid brass wire instead of silver, and another variation with the metal inlaid into a black resin instead of the blued iron ground. It's my opinion that the blued iron pieces are earlier, and most likely from the 1940s or early 1950s. The metal in resin pieces are likely late 1950s to 1960s or even the 1970s for some pieces.
Some of the rarest pieces made by Chato in the early days of Los Castillo were the 'metal pintura' designs - made using blued steel with inlaid brass or silver wire, a technique that he developed in the early to mid 1940s.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #metalpintura #handmade #art #mexico
A rare one of a kind vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver and inlaid wood Mexican modernist hinged bangle bracelet by Los Castillo of Taxco. Most likely designed by Chato Castillo. Comprised of a box section at top with inlayed ebonized (blackened) wood with a hinged cuff section that pushed open on the side and swings open to put it on and take it off. The box section measures 1-1/2" by 1-1/2" by 1/2" deep, and the cuff section is 1/2" wide at bottom and tapers slightly thinner at the sides. The bracelet will fit up to a 7" wrist comfortably, although I was able to get it on my 7-1/2" wrist snugly, and weighs a hefty 60.4 grams total. Marked as shown, "Los Castillo Taxco", and "Made in Mexico Sterling", both in the 1950s circular marks. Excellent vintage condition.
The only example of this design by Chato that I have ever seen in my 45+ year career, and not published in any of the literature on the subject! Possibly a prototype that was never produced in multiples, or could have been a special commission for a favored customer. In any case, a unique and wonderful one of a kind bracelet from Los Castillo in Taxco!
A one of a kind vintage 1950s Los Castillo Taxco handmade sterling silver with inlaid wood Mexican modernist bracelet designed by Chato Castillo.
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #taxco #hechoenmexico #midcenturymexico #mexicanmodernism #moderndesign #jewelrydesign #handmade #wearableart #art
An incredible vintage 1960s Los Castillo handmade metales casados and pre-Columbian green stone Mexican modernist bracelet designed by Chato Castillo in the 1960s - Chato and his brother Antonio Castillo made a number of variations of this design in bracelets, necklaces, and rings over the years and I believe that all of them are unique and one of a kind as I’ve never seen two that were exactly the same - this example made in sterling silver, copper and brass, and centers a pre-Columbian green stone ear plug (1500-2000 years old!) likely of Mayan origin on top of which is a metales casados triangular section with dangles in copper and brass. NFS
A 1960s Chato Castillo design for Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico - a bracelet in metales casados with a 2000 year old Mayan green stone ear plug. NFS
#chatocastillodesign #loscastillotaxco #handmade #metalescasados #marriedmetals #ancient #mayan #greenstone #earplug #precolumbian #hechoenmexico
An 'onix negro' (black onyx) and sterling silver ring designed by Chato Castillo and produced by Los Castillo in Taxco circa 1950. The setting is sterling silver with inset block of black onyx that has sterling silver inlaid on top in the design of a pre-Columbian style 'bird' glyph. In pre-Columbian cultures, birds held significant symbolic and practical importance, often representing deities, spiritual messengers, and status symbols, with feathers used in rituals, adornments, and as tribute. In many pre-Columbian cultures of ancient Mesoamerica, feathers were more highly valued than gold! From my personal collection of the works of Los Castillo, and particularly the designs by Chato Castillo from the 1940s to his death in the mid-1970s.
A Mexican modernist interpretation of a pre Columbian 'bird' glyph design ring by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in sterling silver with 'onix negro' (black onyx) circa 1950. NFS
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #mexicansilver #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico #taxco #silver #wearableart
An incredible vintage 1960s 70s Los Castillo three-color metales casados Snake design lidded box - the metales casados Snake design is surrounded by blue and green resin with inset pieces of azurmalachite - the proportion of colored resin to natural stone is much higher than that found in earlier examples, and so I am guessing that this box is later, the late 60s or even early 1970s, which means that it is likely one of the last designs by Chato Castillo prior to his death in the mid-1970s. The remainder of the box is brass with redwood (possibly cocobolo wood) inner paneling, and with the usual period Los Castillo marks including design number 346. Measures 7.5” wide by 4” deep by 0.75” tall. NFS.
A vintage 1960s 70s 'metales casados' (married metals) and 'mosaico azteca' (Aztec mosaic) stone inlay modernist Snake design box by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco, Mexico.
#loscastillotaxco #handmade #chatocastillodesign #mosaicoazteca #metalescasados #hechoenmexico #taxco #box #snake
A large vintage 1950s Los Castillo ‘metales casados’ (married metals) modernist Deer design oval tray in four colors of metal - brass, copper, dark and light silver - designed by Chato, and made in the Los Castillo workshop in Taxco. Measures 14.75” tall by 9.75” wide. Marked at back as shown, “Los Castillo Taxco” in a circle above “Handwrought”, “Hecho en Mexico”, and design number “241”. Weighs about 28 ounces. This design was made in various sizes and shapes, and this is one of the largest that I have seen of it.
A very large 'metales casados' (married metals) abstracted Deer design tray by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco - in four colors of metal: copper, brass, dark and light silver. Designed by Chato circa 1955.
#chatocastillodesign #loscastillotaxco #metalescasados #metalart #art #hechoenmexico
A small wall-hanging artwork by Chato from the late 1950s - silver inlaid into a thin layer of black resin laid down on a wood backing - measures 11.5” tall by 5” wide - signed at front with the script “Ch” mark for Chato at bottom, and “Los Castillo Taxco” at back - one of my favorite pieces by Chato, and the only example that I’ve seen so far.
Likely a one of a kind artwork by Chato Castillo in Taxco, Mexico - inlaid silver wire in black resin over wood in a design of an embracing couple.
#chatocastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #oneofakind #mexicanart #mexicandesign #handmade #art #taxco #taxcosilver #mexicansilver #hechoenmexico
Late 1940s early 1950s handmade sterling silver sculptural modernist vessel designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco Mexico. NFS
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #sterlingsilver #handmade #sculptural #modernist #vessel #modernsilver #vintagemodern #midcenturymexico #hechoenmexico
A flamboyant 1950s Chato Castillo metales casados (married metals) Mexican modernist pitcher with copper tropical leaf at top at the end of the applied handle - measures 9.5" high by 10.25" across from handle to spout, and with the usual 1950s Los Castillo markings including design number 95 which was used for all sorts of items from pitchers to trays to salt and peppers with this abstract geometric metales casados pattern that I call 'patchwork'.
One of my favorite pieces by Los Castillo, designed by Chato Castillo, this Mexican modernist pitcher in 'metales casados' combining four metals seamlessly!
#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #metalescasados #pitcher #mexicansilver #midcenturymexico #handmade #mexicanmodernism #moderndesign
