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Showing posts with label william spratling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label william spratling. Show all posts

Friday, April 12, 2013

Online Silver Jewelry

The quality and designs of wholesale .925 silver jewelry from Taxco, Mexico brings some of the finest jewelry pieces to the internet as well as brick and mortar stores. The silver from Taxco is traditionally very pure and of high quality. The artisans in Taxco use wholesale silver charms as well as local metal symbols to decorate their pieces.  Affordable prices can be found when you purchase unique silver rings plus pendants bracelets and necklaces. Most fine Mexican handcrafted jewelry is augmented with wholesale silver chains that are of equal value.

Online silver jewelry provides a vast array of Mexican silver jewelry plus gifts and silver plated display ware. You can find awesome jewelry designs in silver earrings, onyx gemstone rings and fine wholesale .925 silver jewelry that is guaranteed to be from Mexico.

Spratling Inspired Silver Jewelry

William Spratling is the father of Mexican silver jewelry. His designs used wholesale silver chains as well as oxidized silver pieces incorporated into carvings inspired by pre-Colombian art. The town of Taxco and its silver economy would be very different without the help of William Spratling. He recognized the importance of the culture of silversmithing and formed artistic silversmith shops to bring Taxco silver into the forefront of silver jewelry making.

The first design inspired by William Spratling is a period necklace that is now available as a model to produce fine jewelry at wholesale jewelry supply stores. When first produced, this piece was featured in Spratling's wholesale .925 silver jewelry catalogues.

In June 1931, Spratling had one silversmith, Artemio Navarrete who created silver jewelry form Spratling's designs. Using wholesale silver chains as part of the pieces, Spratling's designs began an industry that was based on an apprentice system. Within two years Spratling would have two more master silversmiths and a dozen apprentices. Spratling's business was growing and silver designs were being produced.
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Using wholesale jewelry suppliers from the United States, unique pieces of jewelry were hammered out and utilized the natural gemstones and stones from the area where unique silver rings were created. Spratling did not use the oxidized silver methods as often as some of his successors, but now some of his pieces have oxidized to the gorgeous dark patina of fine antique jewelry.

If you are looking for 100% authentic Spratling inspired or Spratling manufactured pieces, you can find these pieces marked with his primary hallmark or name and initials that were popular in that time period. If the silversmiths left enough flat apace on the jewelry piece a silver content mark was included. During Spratling's early years a marking of the place of design was also included. The styles of hallmarks changed over Spratling's thirty six year career and to find the best Spratling pieces you may have to do extensive research.

If you are interested in trying your hand at jewelry making and handcrafting, you can search your wholesale jewelry supply stores for tools, wholesale chains and charms as well as unique rings that can add to your collection. Geseell@avilasterling.com

Friday, March 1, 2013

Innovative Taxco Silver Cuff, Called Infinite

One of the most airy and beautiful bracelet cuffs from Taxco is the Infinite cuff bracelet with its different and unique silver threads all woven together to create a very exclusive piece that looks insubstantial, but is really very sturdy. The thin bars of silver are woven and worked into a frame of sterling silver and the style itself is open for ease of wearing. The finish is highly polished sterling silver and the artist’s mark is included on the piece.

This cuff bracelet weights a total of 48 grams or 106 ounces and sits on your wrist or forearm with grace and a sense of lightness. The decorative spheres that float on this piece are totally movable and can be placed anywhere on the bracelet that you desire. Set them all in a row, or make a design unique to you. The bracelet is two inches wide and includes a circumference of seven and a half inches. Shiny, gorgeous, and made from Taxco sterling silver, whatever way you choose the wear this cuff bracelet you will find that friends and acquaintances will admire your impressive arm piece.

Designed in Taxco silver and handcrafted by Mexican artisans who were highly inspired by Hector Aquilar. Aquilar was one of the greatest silversmiths in the world and his home town of Taxco continues his legacy. Aquiliar’s molds for cuff bracelets are still used by many artisans, yet the pieces are made by hand which brands every single bracelet unique. There are no two jewelry pieces exactly alike.

History of Taxco Silver

Taxco has always had a reputation of fine silver mining and craftsmanship, and the visits of William Spratling to Taxco in 1926 thought 1928 provided Spratling with the inspiration to open a shop that employed weavers, copper and tin smiths and silversmiths. Thousands of tons of silver had been sent from Taxco to the old world for many centuries and now Spratling had the inspiration to make silver jewelry in Taxco, sell it, and bring the money back to Mexico.

As the popularity of Taxco sterling silver jewelry increased, Spratling developed a system of apprenticeship in silversmithing. Those who showed the most promise worked under the direction of highly artistic silversmiths. Most of these highly expert craftsmen later opened their own shops and still credit their expertise to William Spratling and his apprentice system. Look for William Spratling inspired cuff bracelets that use indigenous semi-precious stones such as amethyst and turquoise to compliment the silver designs. You can also find semi-precious stones of chalcedony, coral and obsidian and some tortoise shell in the design of cuff bracelets and other jewelry pieces inspired by Spratling. The molds and styles of Spratling are still used in Taxco silver strong and handsome cuff bracelets. Spratling’s use of mythical animals as well as ancient Aztec and Incan designs have made Taxco silver jewelry some of the most popular and collectible jewelry items in the world.Geseell@avilasterling.com

Monday, February 18, 2013

Solid Sterling Taxco Silver Heptagon Screw, Unisex Ring

This absolutely stunning solid sterling silver ring is hand crafted in a very simple geometric or heptagon shape that almost looks like a shiny screw. This ring is proof that even very simple designs can be highly attractive and draw your eye to the wear’s hand. This ring is designed to be unisex and looks great on either a man or a woman. The clean and clear design of this ring makes it the perfect fashion accessory for any type of ensemble. Use your imagination with this heptagon ring. Use it as a napkin ring, or to tie a scarf or even to wear on a belt.

As with all Taxco sterling silver rings, this Heptagon screw ring is handcrafted and polished to a high sheen. The workmanship is expert and precise and the designer initials, Taxco (or place of origin) and silver content marks are discretely engraved on the inside of the ring.

This is a substantial ring that is somewhat heavy due to the silver content. It is half an inch wide and available in various sizes for both men and women. This gorgeous ring is a piece of jewelry that you would be proud to wear and pass on to your posterity.

Taxco Silver

Taxco de Alarcon or simply Taxco, Mexico is a small and picturesque city located in the State of Guerrero. The name Taxco may have come from a tall waterfall close to the town center, or from the translation “place of the ballgame.” Wherever the name came from Taxco lies in the heart of silver country and has been known for silver mining and the fashioning of silver into fine jewelry, silver flat pieces (trays, goblets, and bowls), and silverware. Taxco is a main tourism center for Mexico and silver shops line the main street. Taxco is one of Mexico “magical towns” due to the silverwork, mining and colonial constructions.

An American, William Spratling moved to Taxco in the 1920s and created a silver design workshop using local artisans. He exported his silver goods to the United States and Taxco silver soon became famous. Tourism exploded and commerce in silver items is now international. Most of the population is involved in the silver trade and to this day Spratling is honored as the founder of Taxco silver.

One of the area’s most well know designers is Hector Aquilar whose original molds are still used in crafting Taxco silver pieces. Pre-Columbian and Aztec designs are highly inspire Taxco silver crafting and the featured poison ring is a prime example of ancient Mexican art. You will find this same motif in many pieces of Taxco sterling silver jewelry and know that each piece is handcrafted. This makes no two pieces of jewelry alike; your piece will be extremely unique.Geseell@avilasterling.com

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Solid Taxco Silver Bangle with Texture

Fine Mexican sterling silver bracelets are manufactured in Taxco, Mexico with high silver content and striking design. This particular piece of jewelry is a contemporary silver bracelet or bangle. A bangle bracelet is usually rigid and ring-shaped made without a clasp to just slip over your hand. At times there may be a hinged opening and a clasp, but this is somewhat unusual in a bangle style. You can wear a bangle bracelet high on your upper arm or if you want, around your ankle.

This particular piece is very simply designed and features a bit of a concave shape. As you look at this bracelet you will see a nice sense of depth with the borders standing out just a bit. The metal surface of the bangle is highly textured in a thread like pattern that makes you feel as if threads of silver form the bracelet. However when you touch the surface of the bangle you find the surface itself is smooth.

The bracelet is solid and substantial with a weight of 65 grams or 2.2 ounces. You will know it is on your wrist or arm or ankle and the feeling will make you feel rich. The bangle itself is three quarters of an inch wide and has an inside circumference of seven and three quarter inches. The inside is highly polished to a smooth texture to make the feel on your arm soft and comfortable.

Handcrafted and guaranteed to be unique, this bangle is highly affordable and is a piece that will go well with any other item of silver jewelry and compliment any type of ensemble. You can order the solid Taxco sterling silver bangle with texture and it will be delivered securely via FEDEX or UPS to anywhere in the world.

There is no better gift for the person who is highly discriminating and loves fine contemporary and elegant sterling silver jewelry. You will find that the artists mark is always on the inside of the bracelet and this is your assurance that it is real Taxco silver and made by hand.

Trivia of Spratling Taxco Silver

William Spratling revitalized the silver and tourist industry in Taxco, Mexico and his success and fame prompted the U.S. Department of the Interior to approach Spratling to include Alaskan students in his apprentice models. Students from Alaska joined Mexican students in Taxco and silver Alaskan native motifs combined with pre-Columbian artwork to flavor Spratling’s designs. Geseell@avilasterling.com

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Taxco Silver Bracelet

On the outskirts of Taxco is one silver mine that will soon be or has been closed down, but there will always be high commercial activity related to the crafting of silver jewelry and accessories.

Silversmithing was invigorated in Taxco by William Spratling who founded silver design workshops using local artisans and silver crafting talent. From the 1920s until today silversmithing has been a major economic force in Taxco and more than half of the town’s population is involved in the silver and tourism trade.

If you were to travel Taxco, Mexico you would find the streets lined with silver shops selling handcrafted jewelry, silverware and other silver goods. You will also discover that most of the silver pieces are handcrafted from silver mined from the local mines. Geseell@avilasterling.com

Sunday, January 13, 2013

History of Taxco Silver and the Poison Ring

This ring takes the wearer back to the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s when Taxco’s jewelry was considered high fashion. People all around the globe are familiar with Taxco Mexican jewelry and purchase this jewelry for its ethnic and creative style.

This displayed poison ring is also known as a pillbox ring or described as a ring that has a storage section inside or under the bezel. In the sixteenth century poison rings were used to contain poison until the wearer could slip poison into the drink or food of an enemy. At times poison rings hold cyanide to provide a way for the user to commit suicide.

These rings became highly popular during the 17th century when locket or poison rings were used to hold perfume, locks of hair or devotional relics. Messages carried between political allies or even lovers were additional uses of these types of rings.

Taxco silver jewelry was awakened by William Spratling in the early 1920s and today’s revolving and unique selection of silver jewelry are all handcrafted by Mexican silversmiths who live and work in Taxco. Hector Aquilar, who was one of the greatest silver craftsmen in the world, is still the inspiration of these awesome silversmiths from Taxco. His designs and work in the ranchero style are echoed in this poison ring.
Geseell@avilasterling.com

Friday, January 11, 2013

Silver Jewelry from Taxco, Mexico

It is no wonder that people from all over the world love Taxco Mexican jewelry. They are crafted in a style that sets them apart from any other silversmithing in the world. In the 1930s William Spratling became the father of Taxco silversmithing and used designs that were pre-Columbian motifs and early ranch life. Spratling used circular discs, balls and straps applied to rope designs and created a whole new industry of jewelry design and form. Spratling also used rosewood, gold and copper to weave unique and highly creative pieces of jewelry.

This same creativity has carried on to modern times where Taxco silversmiths continue the tradition of deep detailing along with handcrafting. Sterling silver pieces form Taxco, Mexico are not carbon copies of one another nor are they made in excess. Each piece is handcrafted and formed out of nearly pure Taxco silver and molded into the pieces you see in high end jewelry stores.

Trading on Spratling’s success, jewelry stores lining the market district of Taxco carry recognizable styles of clean designs and the appreciation of Mexican history. Over 120 employees worked in Spratling’s design studios in the 1940s and descendants of these designers still fashion jewelry pieces that are handcrafted to order. Every piece is signed with the designer’s initials, “Taxco”, and the silver content. This is one sure way of knowing that you are purchasing authentic Taxco sterling silver jewelry.Geseell@avilasterling.com

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

History of Mexican Sterling Silver Jewelry

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Jewelry enthusiasts will definitely have Mexican sterling silver jewelry in their collection. Mexican silver is a secret among jewelry experts, but silver jewelry is quickly gaining interest due to the rich history and high quality of craftsmanship.
Sterling silver was fashioned in Taxco, Mexico and the creation of Mexican silver can be credited to Cortex in the early 17th century. In the Taxco area of Mexico the conquistador placed his claim of silver and began developing silver mines. Silver was mined, refined, purchased and used to make fine jewelry and ornaments. By the 17th century, Taxco sterling silver was sent to Spain, England, Germany and France. However, by the 18th century the silver mining industries of Taxco faded into obscurity.
Don Jose De La Borda brought Taxco's rich silver heritage back into popularity. De La Borda discovered a vein of silver in the local rocks, and his silver mine made him very wealthy. To show his gratitude De La Borda funded homes, schools, and Santa Prisca Cathedral. This giving fostered the tradition of giving back to Taxco by utilizing the Mexican sterling silver industry is still being carried on.
In 1920 college professor William Spratling, arrived in Taxco to find his fortune. He began encouraged local workers to develop silversmithing talents. As a result of Spratling’s dream, Taxco gained and still holds a worldwide reputation for having the most visually spectacular and high quality silver jewelry. In the world of Mexican sterling silver, jewelry designers like Chino Ruiz and Castillos are still viewed with respect for their silver craftsmanship. The demand for Castillos silver jewelry designs along with other Taxco designers is very high. Geseell@avilasterling.com