A 'metales casados' sterling and copper Snake design tie bar by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco Circa 1955.
Measures 2.25" across by 1.25" wide. Marked "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15, also "Metales Castillo", "Hecho en Mexico" and "79".
#loscastillo #taxco #snake
The entrance to Don Antonio Castillo's estate and workshop just outside of Taxco.
#loscastillo #taxco #antoniocastillotaxco #mexicansilver #handmade #mexicandesign #mexicanmetalworking
A singular vintage 1970s one of a kind handmade sterling silver and druzy pyrite Mexican modernist cocktail ring by Citlal Castillo. Citlal is the niece of Antonio Castillo of Los Castillo, and the cousin of Emilia Castillo, and quite a talented designer in her own right! An entirely handmade sterling silver modernist cocktail ring featuring several bead-tipped wires at top that reach around and grasp the druzy pyrite stone! Such a unique ring, and no doubt a one of a kind piece of wearable art from mid century Mexico! Adjustable ring band presently about a size 10 US, but really will fit just about any finger. The ring measures just under 1" long at top, rises 5/8" above the finger, and weighs a hefty 17.3 grams total. Marked inside band, "Citlal" with her logo of two opposing letter C's that look like flowers or grasping hands, "925" and "Hecho en Mexico". From the estate of a very successful business woman in the publishing industry from NYC who traveled extensively and had exquisite taste! Excellent vintage condition.
Citlal Castillo is the niece of Antonio Castillo of Los Castillo in Taxco - a handmade sterling silver and druzy pyrite modernist ring by Citlal Castillo c. 1970s.
Available...
www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...
#citlalcastillo #loscastillo #taxco #mexicansilver #mexicanmodernism #ring #modernism
Los Castillo sterling silver guitar player brooch. Listed on eBay currently (not by me)
#loscastillo
Maracas player brooch, sterling silver, by Los Castillo. Currently listed on eBay (not by me).
#loscastillo #taxco #taxcomexico
Tachi (Luz Maria) Castillo was born in Mexico City in 1918. In 1930 her family settled in Taxco, because her father, a military engineer, was overseeing the installation of a telegraph system in that part of Mexico. She enjoyed the companionship of four brothers and one sister, all of whom soon established impressive, and often international, reputations for their accomplishments. Tachi Castillo's brothers were soon renowned for their distinctive silver jewelry designs and Tachi was the first to introduce hand-embroidered dresses in Taxco, despite having been advised not to pursue any career other than designing or working with silver. The first two dresses she designed and created were sold from the silver shop the same morning she put them there. Around 1937 Tachi Castillo opened her eponymous store in Casa Borda and sometime before the end of the 1940s she married Alphonso Ramirez-Mendoza, a textile designer who later managed her business. In 1944 Tachi Castillo and her husband opened a store in Taxco and named it Gracias a Dios (thanks be to God), across the street from her family home. Her fashion designs caught the eye of a vacationing Hollywood actress, Joan Fontaine, who brought many of Tachi's dresses back with her. Soon Tachi Castillo was dressing other Hollywood stars, such as Brigitte Bardot and Lana Turner. Non-Hollywood celebrities could be seen in Castillo designs, too, such as Princess Anne and Frida Kahlo. Her feminine and romantic designs of cotton pintuck peasant blouses and wide swirly skirts skillfully paired the wonderful designs of her native Mexico with modern, hand-painted, and hand-embroidered designs. She is credited with having created the popular "Mexican wedding dress" while she also specialized in colorful evening apparel. Tachi Castillo never retired and worked until she died in 1999. Her family home is now a popular, charming, and historic hotel named Hotel Mi Casita (Hotel My House), owned and operated by her family.
Los Castillo was founded in 1939 by four brothers who were all talented designers and silversmiths, but there was also a famous sister, Tachi, who had a long and illustrious career as a fashion designer.
#loscastillo #taxco #tachicastillo #fashion #designer #mexicanfashion #handmade #hechoenmexico
a GORGEOUS vintage 1980s 90s handmade sterling silver and turquoise Mexican modernist cocktail ring designed by Antonio Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco. A roughly triangular turquoise cabochon with silver beads at four points, and encircled by square sterling wire. Entirely handmade, and like all of Antonio's designs from this part of his life, the work of a mature and sophisticated designer! Measures just over 1" long at top by just under 7/8" wide, size 8 US, and weighs 6.4 grams total. Marked inside the band as shown, "Los Castillo Sterling TA-01". An exceptionally striking natural turquoise stone of vibrant color, and great quality! Excellent vintage condition. https://www.rubylane.com/item/1879775-5372/GORGEOUS-Vintage-1980s-Antonio-Castillo-Los?search=1
a RARE and wonderful vintage 1950s handmade one of a kind Mexican modernist Medusa design brooch by the Emaus workshop of Cuernavaca Mexico. They were a force to be reckoned with in Mexican mid century art and craft, but they also made jewelry which is much more rare and hard to find than their wall hangings and sculpture. They were only in existence from about 1950 to 1980, and many of their designs were by important Mexican architects and designers including Ernesto Paulsen Camba (1925-2006) who was a Mexican modernist sculptor, architect, and designer. The legend of Medusa is of course from the Ancient Greeks, and here's a short bit I found online about her: Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. According to legend she was a virgin priestess of Athena who broke her vows by having an affair with the god Poseidon, and Athena cursed her for her betrayal by turning her into the monster of legend. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal; hence her slayer, Perseus, was able to kill her by cutting off her head. From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon. The severed head, which had the power of turning into stone all who looked upon it, was given to Athena, who placed it in her shield. The only example of this brooch that I have seen by Emaus in my 45+ year career! Hand painted ceramic 'face' at center bezel-set in a sterling silver frame and with a halo of writhing applied sterling silver 'snakes' surrounding the face. Such a unique piece, and no doubt a one of a kind! Measures 2.5" by 2", and weighs 21 grams total. Marked at back as shown, "Emaus 0.925". Excellent vintage condition. https://www.rubylane.com/item/1879775-5373/Vintage-1950s-Emaus-One-Kind-Handmade?search=1
a SUPERB vintage 1950s 60s handmade 970 silver and amethyst Mexican modernist brooch designed by Antonio Pineda and made for him by Los Castillo in Taxco. A sculpted dimensional geometric design in high-grade 970 silver with an inset oval amethyst cabochon set off-center! An outstanding design by Antonio Pineda, and made for him by Los Castillo during the labor unrest in Taxco in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Many of the silversmiths in Taxco went on strike for better wages and working conditions, and this unrest hit many of the workshops quite hard including Antonio Pineda. However, he had a longstanding relationship with the Castillo brothers at Los Castillo, and arranged for them to make his designs for a couple of years until the labor conditions improved. Measures 2.75" long by 1-1/4" wide, and weighs a hefty 27 grams total. Marked at back as shown with both Los Castillo marks from the period, as well as the Antonio crown mark, along with "970 Hecho en Mexico" and the Eagle 58. Excellent vintage condition. https://www.rubylane.com/item/1879775-5374/SUPERB-Vintage-1950s-60s-Antonio-Pineda?search=1
Three beauties from Mexico...
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#mexicansilver #mexicanmodern #midcenturymexico #loscastillo #taxco #emaus #cuernavaca #antoniopineda #taxcosilver #modernism #moderndesign #handmade #disenomexicano #hechoenmexico #hechoamano #joyeriamexicana #modernsilver #vintage
a BIG vintage 1940s handmade sterling silver Mexican Art Deco Gazelle brooch designed by Margot van Voorhies Carr for Los Castillo in Taxco Mexico. At the time, Margot was married to Antonio Castillo, one of the four Los Castillo brothers that founded Los Castillo in the late 1930s in Taxco. A very large and particularly attractive brooch that makes a stunning statement when worn! Measures 3-7/8" tall by 2-3/4" wide, and weighs 17.9 grams total. Marked at back as shown with the 1940s Los Castillo hallmarks, "Los Castillo Taxco Sterling Made in Mexico" and design number "629". Excellent vintage condition.
A very large vintage 1940s handmade sterling silver Mexican Art Deco 'Gazelle' brooch designed by Margot for Los Castillo in Taxco.
www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...
#loscastillo #taxco #margotdesign #mexicansilver #mexicanartdeco #handmade #artdecojewelry #mexicandesign #hechoenmexico #taxcosilver
a HUGE vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist pre Columbian Figure design brooch pendant created by Salvador Teran for Los Castillo in Taxco. Salvador Teran was cousin to the Castillo brothers of Los Castillo, and he was a designer and silversmith there for their first decade or so before opening his own shop La India Bonita in 1952. This is one of his very rare and very early designs while still at Los Castillo. The design is comprised of two layers of sterling silver with the upper layer cut-thru to reveal the underlayer which has been oxidized black for contrast with the shiny polished raised sections. The design features a modernist rendition of a pre Columbian figure possibly Mayan or Aztec, and in an ornate frame. The figure has cactus-hands, one is holding a cross, his body is also a cross, and he has a tail to one side. I am guessing that this is Salvador's take on the pre-Columbian Mayan or Aztec Monkey God. This brooch also has a pendant loop at back for wearing on a neckring, chain, or cord, and I show it on a neckring for reference although the neckring is not included but can be purchased separately. This brooch measures 3.5" tall by 2-3/8" wide, and weighs a hefty 38.6 grams total. Marked at back with applied dot "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the original Eagle 15, also marked "Sterling Mexico" above in block. Los Castillo rarely used a designer mark of any kind, and although this brooch doesn't bear his name, it is undeniably by the hand of Salvador Teran. A very rare design that I have never seen before or since, and it has been in my collection for quite some time. Possibly even a one of a kind, and it is not published in any of the literature on the subject, and I haven't seen another offered online or elsewhere. Excellent vintage condition.
In ancient Mesoamerica (Mexico), there were multiple monkey gods, including howler monkey gods and the Aztec monkey Ozomatli. In Mayan mythology, howler monkeys were gods of the arts, scribes, and patrons of artisans. The Mayans believed that howler monkeys were keepers of wisdom and creativity, and that their howls carried mystical truths through the jungles. The Aztec monkey was the companion spirit and servant of Xochipilli, the god of music and dance. Monkeys were associated with fun, games, and the arts. The spider monkey was an important subject in Mesoamerican art and was featured in mythological scenes. The monkey was also associated with the Aztec Wind God, Quetzalcoatl-Ehecatl. This brooch/pendant is one of three rare early designs by Salvador Teran at Los Castillo that I am offering in my shop this week. They are from my personal collection, and I haven't seen another of this brooch design in my 45+ year career!
One more early example by designer Salvador Teran from his days at Los Castillo in Taxco circa 1950.
www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...
#salvadorvacateran #loscastillo #taxco #mexicansilver #taxcosilver #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico #hechoenmexico #disenomexicano #vintagemodern #modernsilver
a RARE vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist Parrot design brooch pendant created by Salvador Teran for Los Castillo in Taxco. Salvador Teran was cousin to the Castillo brothers of Los Castillo, and he was a designer and silversmith there for their first decade or so before opening his own shop La India Bonita in 1952. This is one of his very rare and very early designs while still at Los Castillo. The design is comprised of two layers of sterling silver with the upper layer cut-thru to reveal the underlayer which has been oxidized black for contrast with the shiny polished raised sections. The design features a modernist rendition of a parrot in an ornate frame. This brooch also has a pendant loop at back for wearing on a neckring, chain, or cord, and I show it on a neckring for reference although the neckring is not included but can be purchased separately. This brooch measures 2-5/8" tall by 1-7/8" wide, and weighs a substantial 27.4 grams total. Marked at back with applied dot "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15, also marked "Sterling Mexico". Los Castillo rarely used a designer mark of any kind, and although this brooch doesn't bear his name, it is undeniably the hand of Salvador Teran. A very rare design that I have never seen before or since, and it has been in my collection for quite some time. Possibly even a one of a kind, and it is not published in any of the literature on the subject, and I haven't seen another offered online or elsewhere. This brooch/pendant is one of three rare early designs by Salvador Teran at Los Castillo that I am offering in my shop this week. They are from my personal collection, and this brooch is the only example of this design that I have seen in my 45+ year career! Excellent vintage condition.
RARE vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist Parrot design brooch pendant created by Salvador Teran for Los Castillo in Taxco. Salvador Teran was cousin to the Castillo brothers of Los Castillo, and he was a designer and silversmith there for their first decade or so before opening his own shop La India Bonita in 1952. This is one of his very rare and very early designs while still at Los Castillo. The design is comprised of two layers of sterling silver with the upper layer cut-thru to reveal the underlayer which has been oxidized black for contrast with the shiny polished raised sections. The design features a modernist rendition of a parrot in an ornate frame. This brooch also has a pendant loop at back for wearing on a neckring, chain, or cord, and I show it on a neckring for reference although the neckring is not included but can be purchased separately. This brooch measures 2-5/8" tall by 1-7/8" wide, and weighs a substantial 27.4 grams total. Marked at back with applied dot "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15, also marked "Sterling Mexico". Los Castillo rarely used a designer mark of any kind, and although this brooch doesn't bear his name, it is undeniably the hand of Salvador Teran. A very rare design that I have never seen before or since, and it has been in my collection for quite some time. Possibly even a one of a kind, and it is not published in any of the literature on the subject, and I haven't seen another offered online or elsewhere. This brooch/pendant is one of three rare early designs by Salvador Teran at Los Castillo that I am offering in my shop this week. They are from my personal collection, and this brooch is the only example of this design that I have seen in my 45+ year career! Excellent vintage condition
Very early pin/pendant by Mexican silversmith/designer Salvador Vaca Teran while he was at Los Castillo in Taxco c.1950
www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...
#salvadorteran #loscastillo #taxco #mexicansilver #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico #vintagemodern #modernsilver #modernistjewelry #handmade
Vintage Los Castillo silver plated crab bottle opener. The legs are moveable. Beautiful well made larger piece that's a great addition to your beach or ocean themed decor. bit.ly/46uudOL #vintage #sharkyswaters #crab #bottleopeners #beachdecor #oceandecor #nautical #loscastillo #taxco
