Lot - Sucesores de William Spratling Silver Bangles, Set of 3, Taxco

William Spratling (American/expatriate in Mexico, 1900–1967). Produced by Sucesores de William Spratling. A group of three sterling silver bangle bracelets, including two silver and ebony inlaid bangles and one twisted sterling silver bracelet. The ebony-inlaid pair display rounded profiles with diagonal bands of dark wood set into polished silver. Size of largest: 3.3" Diameter x 0.3" W (8.4 cm x 0.8 cm); silver quality: 94%; total weight: 90.1 grams

The third bracelet is formed as a twisted sterling silver band, its flowing spiral design giving the piece a dynamic sense of movement while maintaining the clean, restrained elegance characteristic of Spratling workshop jewelry. All three examples were produced by Sucesores de William Spratling under Mexico's modern silver marking system introduced in 1979. The twisted bracelet bears both the Spratling mark and the assay mark "TS-24." One silver and ebony bracelet is stamped "24" with faint traces of the Spratling mark remaining, while the other is stamped "TS-24" and also retains partial traces of the Spratling mark. Together, the bracelets illustrate the continued influence of Spratling's design philosophy, combining strong architectural forms, contrasting materials, and the refined craftsmanship that made Taxco silver internationally renowned.

William Spratling made his initial visit to Mexico in 1926, and returned each summer for the next several years. Finally, in 1929, Spratling actually moved to Mexico to be an expatriate, becoming an active member of the vibrant artistic circles of Mexico. Spratling promoted the art of none other than Diego Rivera to New York galleries which led to Rivera's participation in the first exhibition of Mexican visual culture held in the United States, funded by the Carnegie Institute, that opened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Not only did Spratling assist in curating the exhibition, but he also lent a number of his own pieces. During this same time period, Spratling was working on drawings for the expanding Morrow (US Ambassador to Mexico Dwight Morrow and his wife, the poet Elizabeth Cutter Morrow) home in Cuernavaca. Many of these drawings were included in the book written by Elizabeth Morrow entitled, "Casa Manana" (Knopf, 1930). It was Ambassador Morrow who suggested that Spratling explore developing the silver industry in Taxco.

Trying to find a way to support himself as an expatriate artist, Spratling took notice of the Taxco's silver-mining history and opened a workshop called the Taller de las Delicias, which translates to "Factory of Delights". Years later, he would write: "Nineteen-thirty-one was a notable year in modern Mexican silversmithing. A young silversmith from Iguala named Artemio Navarrete went to Taxco to work for a small silver shop, founded with the germ of an idea, where Artemio, as a nucleus, began to form silversmiths. The present writer, encouraged by his friends Moises Saenz, Dwight Morrow and Diego Rivera, had set up that little shop called 'Las Delicias.'"

Penny Chittim Morrill, Ph.D., who co-authored "Mexican Silver: 20th Century Hand-wrought Jewelry & Silver" with art dealer Carole Berk is the primary authority on Spratling's work. Morrill was the guest curator for the 2002 traveling exhibition entitled, "William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance: Maestros de Plata," organized by the San Diego Museum of Art. In her catalogue essay, Morrill stated, "In establishing silver as an artistic medium, what Spratling achieved was a delicate balance, a synthesis of abstract tendencies in the existent folk art tradition and in contemporary fine art, resulting in a visualization of concepts and ideas. As importantly, the Taller de las Delicias, became the paradigm for other silver designers to follow. Las Delicias was a community in which imagination and innovation were fostered and encouraged as the men learned the art of silversmithing while producing for profit. In the hierarchy of the workshop, these silversmiths advanced according to their ability, enthusiasm, and technical expertise."

Provenance: ex-private Moore collection, Denver, Colorado, USA, acquired prior to 1990

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Item # 201189

Condition: Some light surface wear and scattered patina throughout, but, otherwise all three are intact, wearable, and in very nice overall condition. The twisted bracelet bears the Spratling mark and the "TS-24" assay stamp. One silver and ebony bracelet is stamped "24" with faint traces of the Spratling mark remaining. The other silver and ebony bracelet is stamped "TS-24" and retains partial traces of the Spratling mark.

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Lot 824

Sucesores de William Spratling Silver Bangles, Set of 3, Taxco

Sucesores de William Spratling Silver Bangles, Set of 3, Taxco

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