A huge and quite rare set of vintage 1940s 50s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist pre-Columbian Figure design pendant with matching earrings 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 pendant 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 seated pre-Columbian figure with elaborate headdress, possibly Mayan or Aztec in origin. The matching earrings are very similar, but only show the face of the figure but still with elaborate headdress. A striking modernist interpretation of ancient Mesoamerican art! The pendant measures 3.25" tall by 1.25" widest point. The earrings measure 2-1/8" tall by 5/8" widest point. All pieces marked as shown. The pendant is marked, "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle, with "Hecho en Mexico" and design number "126". The earrings are also marked design number "126" with "Sterling Made in Mexico". The set weighs 45.1 grams total. An early design by Salvador Teran for Los Castillo, and pre Eagle mark, so I can safely say that this set was made between 1948 and 1952 when Salvador left to open his own shop. Tested and guaranteed to be as described. The pendant would look amazing on a chain, a neckring or a black cord. I have sterling neck rings available for purchase separately, if desired. I also have black fabric cord available at no extra charge, just let me know in the transaction notes when making the purchase. Excellent vintage condition.

A very large and very rare Salvador Teran design for Los Castillo Taxco handmade sterling silver pendant with matching earrings - pendant measures 3.25" tall, earrings are over 2" long!

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#loscastillotaxco #salvadorteran #mexicansilver #hechoenmexico

Salvador Vaca Teran (1920-1974) was first cousin to the Castillo brothers, and joined them at the start of Los Castillo in 1939 - several of his designs at Los Castillo became classics and continued to be produced after he left to open his workshop La India Bonita in Mexico City in 1952 - this is one of those designs - design number 111 - a handmade sterling silver overlay pre-Columbian revival design of two ball players - sport was an important part of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican societies throughout ancient Mexico, and the Castillo brothers and their cousin Salvador Terán were greatly influenced by the many examples of pre-Columbian art and architecture still being discovered in Mexico in those days - measures 1-7/8" diameter, and weighs 24 grams total - marked at back as shown in the second photo - the brooch is composed of two layers of sterling silver, the upper layer is cut-thru, and the bottom layer is oxidized black to make the cut-thru design contrast strongly with the polished silver surfaces surrounding it.

The marks on Salvador Terán design brooch from Los Castillo circa 1950s - design number 111, "Made in Mexico", "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15 mark, and "925" for sterling silver.

Salvador Terán sterling silver brooch design at Los Castillo circa 1950s - two pre-Columbian athletes at play!

#salvadorteran #loscastillotaxco #taxco #mexicansilver #mexicanjewelry #handmade #sterlingsilver #brooch #jewelry #jewelrydesign #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico #modernistjewelry #art

A superb vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist Chili Peppers design bracelet by Salvador Teran in Taxco. One of his larger designs, very sculptural, and meticulously crafted entirely by hand! Two dimensional 'chili peppers' at front with open-wire 'birdcage' design at sides. Fits up to a 6.75" wrist by 2-1/8" wide at front, and weighs 71.6 grams total. Marked as shown, "Salvador Sterling Mexico", design number "178" and Eagle 36. Safety chain is present and in perfect condition. Box closure opens and closes easily and stays closed securely. Excellent vintage condition.

A sculptural Salvador Teran of Taxco handmade sterling silver 'chili pepper' design bracelet circa 1955.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#salvadorteran #chilipepper #bracelet #handmade #mexicansilver #bracelet #jewelrydesign #mexicanmodernism #hechoenmexico #taxco #modernistjewelry

One last early design by Salvador Teran for his cousins at Los Castillo! Salvador was greatly influenced by the art of his ancestors, the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica. In pre-Columbian cultures, parrots, particularly macaws, held significant symbolic and practical importance. Their vibrant feathers were highly valued for their beauty, often used to adorn headdresses, clothing, and other status symbols. Parrots were also associated with the celestial realm, the sun, moon, and messengers between the natural and spiritual worlds. Their ability to mimic speech and their association with the sky further contributed to their symbolic significance. A super rare vintage 1950s Los Castillo Taxco Salvador Teran handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist Parrot design pendant brooch - measures 2-5/8” tall by nearly 2” wide! Available in my Ruby Lane shop.

An early Salvador Teran pendant/brooch design for Los Castillo of a Parrot in handmade sterling silver circa 1950.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#loscastillotaxco #salvadorteran #salvadorteranjewelry #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico #mexicansilver #mexicanjewelry #handmade #pin

A rare pair of vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist Horse Head design earrings 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 earrings are overall kite-shaped with an abstracted design of a horse head. Each earring measures 1-3/8" tall by 7/8" wide, and the pair weigh 14 grams total. The marks at back are under the screw mechanism and show a great deal of wear, but I can make out "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15 on one earring, and "Hecho en Mexico" with design number "108" on the other earring. 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 from his early days. Los Castillo also made the matching necklace and bracelet both of which I have seen several times in the past, but this is the only pair of the earrings for this design that I have run across. Excellent vintage condition.

A rare pair of vintage 1950s Los Castillo modernist sterling earrings designed by Salvador Teran - are they horses, deer, or maybe unicorns?

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#salvadorteran #salvadorteranjewelry #loscastillotaxco #handmade #mexicansilver #modernistjewelry #earrings

Before Salvador Teran opened his own shop in Taxco, he worked with his cousins at Los Castillo where he was a designer for a few years - his early work at Los Castillo is very distinctive and unique from the pieces designed by their other principal designers: Margot, Antonio, or Chato. A rare and quite large vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist pre Columbian mythological figure pendant/brooch designed and perhaps made by Salvador Teran for Los Castillo in the late 1940s to early 1950s - measures 3.5" tall by 2-3/8" wide! Quite an amalgam of features, the figure has the head of an ancient Maya or Aztec with elaborate feather headdress, a cross for his body, cacti for hands, and the legs and tail of a monkey! All in silver overlay on a roughly oval-shaped slightly convex plaque with applied silver overlay elaborate border. The only example of this design that I have seen, and it’s not pictured in any of the literature! The brooch has the Los Castillo Eagle mark at back, so it could only have been made between 1948 when the Eagle marks were first instituted and 1952 when Salvador left Los Castillo to open his own shop, La India Bonita.

An early pendant/brooch design by Salvador Teran for Los Castillo in Taxco circa 1950.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#salvadorteran #salvadorteranjewelry #loscastillotaxco #handmade #mexicansilver #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico #taxco #wearableart #jewelrydesign #mexico

An iconic vintage 1950s hand wrought forged brass and glass tile mosaic Mexican modernist abstract Biomorphic design tray by Salvador Teran of Mexico City. One of his few purely abstract designs, entirely handmade, and emblematic of the Mexican mid-century! Measures 12.75" long by 5.75" widest point and rises 1.5" high at the ends. Marked at back as shown, " 1 Handwrought Salvador Hecho en Mexico 425". Overall great shape with no damage to the metal or the tile inlay, but with considerable oxidation to the metal and detritus acquired over the years, and thus could use a good cleaning or leave it all original if you prefer. Excellent vintage condition.

Salvador Teran handmade glass mosaic in brass Mexican modernist abstract figures design tray circa 1955.

Available in my Ruby Lane shop...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#salvadorteran #mexico #handmade #glassmosaic #brass #abstractart #mexicanmodernist #art #hechoenmexico #midcenturymexico

My small collection of rings by Los Castillo in roughly chronological order from top left to bottom right.

#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillo #margotvanvoorhies #salvadorteran #antoniocastillo #taxco #rings #jewelry #jewelrydesign #wearableart #handmade #silver #vintagejewelry #hechoenmexico #art

The 'pluma azteca' jewelry making technique entails the use of sterling silver as the frame, and the 'canvas' which is cut-thru to reveal the brightly-colored feather inlay underneath. In this case, the feathers are encased in a clear resin.

When held up to the light, the encased feathers glow brightly, and what looked like black is revealed to be purple. You can clearly see the individual barbs of the feather in this photo. The 'pluma azteca' (Aztec feather) technique was invented by Chato Castillo in the 1950s, and went thru several variations over the years. The technique was an homage to the Aztec and Mayan ancestors who adorned themselves in feathers, and valued them more highly than gold! Many other workshops in Taxco and beyond copied this feather-inlay technique, but Los Castillo made the most inventive and iconic designs from the era!

Two examples of different sizes of the Salvador Teran design for Los Castillo in Taxco in sterling silver and 'pluma azteca' (Aztec feathers) from the 1950s/60s.

#loscastillotaxco #salvadorteran #design #plumaazteca #sterlingsilver #pendants #mexicansilver #jewelrydesign #handmade #midcenturymexico

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

an IMPRESSIVE vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist Tribal Figures design pendant necklace 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 pair of pre-Columbian tribal figures of ancient Mesoamerica. The figures are flanked by a dog on one side, and on the other is a glyph or symbol for which I don't know the meaning, but I am guessing that this is possibly a hunting scene. The pendant measures 3-1/8" tall by 3-1/8" widest point, and hangs on the original handmade sterling necklace that is not removable having been soldered in place when originally made by Los Castillo. Marked at back of the pendant as shown, "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle next to the Eagle 15, and design number "110". Also marked "925" for sterling silver, and "Made in Mexico". Los Castillo rarely used a designer mark of any kind, and although this necklace doesn't bear his name, it is undeniably by the hand of Salvador Teran. Los Castillo made several version of this design, but this necklace is one of the rarer versions made, and quite hard to find. Not in any of the published literature on the field, and not available online or elsewhere at the time of this listing. This necklace 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 haven't been available for sale for many years. Excellent vintage condition.

An impressive vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver Mexican modernist necklace by Salvador Teran for Los Castillo in Taxco - link below for further details...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#loscastillotaxco #salvadorteran #mexicansilver #midcenturymexico #taxco #taxcosilver #mexicanmodernism