4 online articles for beginning collectors of vintage Mexican silver

If you are newly in love with vintage Mexican silver and want to learn more without yet spending money on reference books, here are 4 articles to get you started:

William Spratling and the Taxco School by Monica Clare McLaughlin, Heritage Editor — JCK Online, June 1, 2004
“Metalsmithing in Mexico dates back hundreds of years, but one of the most collected varieties of Mexican silver jewelry is a recent one. The Taxco School of silver jewelry was launched in the first half of the last century through the efforts of one man, William Spratling.”  Read the rest…

A Short History of Silver Jewelry Production in Taxco, by Carmen Armstrong, is an overview of the silver industry in the area of Taxco, Mexico.

Dinner with Sigi Pineda: Meeting a Taxco Silver Legend, by Anned Muse
“It all began in 2002 when the San Antonio Museum of Art held its extensive exhibition on William Spratling and the silver masters of Taxco, Mexico. The show was stunning, and re-awakened my appreciation for the artistry of the Taxco silver masters. I not only realized that I had several very good pieces of Mexican silver at home in my jewelry box, but also discovered that my favorite designer was and continued to be Sigi Pineda.”  Read the rest…

Fooled By Fakes: Buyer Beware! by Anita Stratos, Antiques and Auction News
“Mexican silver jewelry was in its heyday during the 1930’s-1950’s, but there’s a major resurgence in the popularity of these vintage pieces today. High prices – into the hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars – can be had for original pieces from renowned designers like William Spratling, Hector Aguilar, Frederick Davis, Carlos Castillo, and Margot of Taxco. This gives unscrupulous sellers lots of incentive to turn out fakes and forgeries.” Read the rest…