That vintage William Spratling silver pin again….

Regarding yesterday’s post about the value of this vintage William Spratling silver pin – perhaps a current asking price of $400.00 is not in line with the market at the moment.

While poking around Artfact.com’s database of past auction prices, I saw that the same style of pin did not sell at an auction just a few months ago (November 10, 2009). The Heritage Auction Galleries listing on Artfact was for Lot 71004. The description:

A MEXICAN SILVER PIN William Spratling, Taxco, Mexico, circa 1945 Marks: SPRATLING MADE IN MEXICO (circling) WS, SPRATLING SILVER 1-3/8 x 1-3/4 inches (3.5 x 4.4 cm) 0.46 troy ounces PROVENANCE: From the Collection of Carole A. Berk, Ltd. The Pre-Columbian inspired pin of a seated figure with jar and bird, pivot ring closure.

The estimated price was $400 – $500, the realized price $0.  You can see the listing here (login – it’s free – for full details). See a list of other vintage Mexican silver items from that auction here.

On a related note, if you are interested in adding to your arsenal of vintage Mexican silver reference materials, take a look at this digital reproduction of the William Spratling 1962 Silver Catalog & Price List. From the seller’s description:

“We have digitally reproduced our original 1962 29-page catalog at an extremely high resolution, printed the pages on a heavy gloss stock, and bound it between heavy clear covers with a silvery coil. This is a printed book, not a photocopy. Our methods allow us to retain an unusual image clarity and depth of detail. The true spiral binding, unlike a comb binding, allows this book to remain unharmed when left open at the desired place.”

The catalog is a fixed price listing, not an auction.