Face it: this vintage Los Castillo sterling silver bracelet is fantastico!

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Ever since Antonio Castillo and his brothers established their business in 1939, Los Castillo silver designs have become the prized possessions of many a silver enthusiast. This bracelet, which will be sold at auction on April 11th, is yet another example of why folks love Los Castillo. Not suprised to see that bidding has already begun…..

Vintage Los Castillo sterling silver bracelet; Photograph: Heritage Auctions


Here’s the auctioneer’s description for Lot 68525:

A LOS CASTILLO SILVER BRACELET
Los Castillo, Taxco, Mexico, circa 1950
Marks: CASTILLO, LOS CASTILLO, STERLING, MEXICO
6-3/8 inches long (16.1 cm)
4.5 troy ounces
The silver bracelet featuring 14 stylized linked faces. Estimate: $500 – $800.
Condition Report*: With surface scratches commensurate with age.
*Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold “AS IS”.

Follow this link for more details about and to bid on Lot 68525 at the Heritage Auctions Fine Silver & Vertu Signature auction.


Margot de Taxco fine vintage jewelry at auction this week

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On Tuesday, two lots of vintage Margot de Taxco jewelry will be sold during Skinner’s Fine Jewelry auction.

Margot van Voorhies Carr (known as Margot de Taxco) first arrived in Mexico in 1937 and was especially well-known for her use of enamel on silver. This first lot is a beautiful and excellent example:

Vintage Margot de Taxco sterling silver and enamel suite Photograph: Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers

Auctioneer’s description:

Lot 150
Sterling Silver and Enamel Suite, Margot de Taxco, the necklace designed as four black and white enamel plaques completed by a double curb link chain, earclips en suite, no. 5552, the figural brooch with various colored enamels, no. 5808, lg. 15, 1 1/2, and 2 1/4 in., necklace and brooch signed. Estimate $500-700

Click here for more details about Lot 150.

This next lot is strictly silver with a lovely multi-dimensional design:

Vintage Margot de Taxco sterling silver necklace and bracelet Photograph: Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers

Here are the details from the auctioneer:

Lot 151
Mexican Sterling Silver Necklace and Bracelet, Margot de Taxco, the necklace composed of domed and wing-shaped links, bracelet en suite, lg. 15 1/4 and 7 1/2 in., both no. 5240, signed. Estimate $400-600

Get more information about Lot 151 here.

Skinner’s Discovery auction on Wednesday, March 14th also has one lot (307) of work by Margot de Taxco. Take a look here.

You might also want to have a look at some of the vintage Margot de Taxco jewelry currently offered on eBay. Here are a few of the listings:

vintage-margot-de-taxco-mexican-deco-mosaic-glass-enamel-sterling-925-earrings Vintage Margot de Taxco Mexican Deco Mosaic Glass Enamel Sterling 925 Earrings
US $185.00
Auction Ends: Friday May-18-2012 22:50:18 PDT
  | Watch this Item
vintage-design-margot-de-taxco-design-mexican-950-silver-bird-bracelet-mexico VINTAGE DESIGN MARGOT DE TAXCO DESIGN MEXICAN 950 SILVER BIRD BRACELET MEXICO
US $149.95
Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 7:27:14 PDT
  | Watch this Item
vintage-design-margot-de-taxco-design-mexican-950-silver-bracelet-mexico VINTAGE DESIGN MARGOT DE TAXCO DESIGN MEXICAN 950 SILVER BRACELET MEXICO
US $295.00
Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 7:28:04 PDT
  | Watch this Item
vtg-margot-de-taxco-mexican-sterling-silver-copper-heavy-nouveau-bracelet-15234 VTG MARGOT DE TAXCO MEXICAN STERLING SILVER COPPER HEAVY NOUVEAU BRACELET 15234
US $695.00
Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 12:05:01 PDT
  | Watch this Item

Mixing it up with vintage Mexican silver and metales casados

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Metales casados, or “married” metals, is the technique of fusing two or more metals in a design. Two great Taxco names, Los Castillo and Ana Nunez de Brilanti (Victoria), were responsible for introducing this technique in twentieth-century Taxco. But they didn’t invent the idea — it is actually an ancient technique dating back more than 2,000 years and was used by the Zapotec, Olmec, Monte Alban and Mayan cultures.

As Hougart notes in The Little Book of Mexican Silver Trade and Hallmarks, Brilanti is “remembered for her designs combining silver and copper. Her ‘married metal’ line is a superb example of the result of years of research and refinement of techniques.”

If you’re not familiar with vintage Mexican married metals, here are a few examples, along with links to the sellers:

Los Castillo metales casado dish; Photograph: Una Vida Moderna

The Los Castillo Metales Casado Married Metals Dish above is offered by Una Vida Moderna and is a “handwrought mixed metals plate of Alpaca, Brass, and Copper. Wonderful animal silhouette within an ethereal setting.”  Details and pricing here.

 

Victoria metales casados dancer pin; Photograph: KBueno! Mexican Vintage

This Victoria Metales Casados Dancer Pin from KBueno! Mexican Vintage is a “beautifully crafted pin with pendant bale featuring a native dancer in married metals enhanced by etched niello accents.” For information about this pin and other Victoria metales casados pieces offered by KBueno! click here.

Los Castillo married metals dish Photograph: Lauren Stanley Silver

Offered by Lauren Stanley Silver is the footed silver, brass and copper dish shown above, “a rare handwrought circa 1955 married metals tetra – silver, copper and brass – fish bowl by Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico.” More information here. You can also see more vintage Mexican and other silver offered by Lauren Stanley American Silver on eBay.