Description
Vintage Los Castillo Sterling Amethyst bracelet. Mid 20th century, 7.5" long
with no issues. 75.3 grams
Los Castillo Jewelry - History
Antonio Castillo and his brothers Jorge, Miguel, and Justo began Los Castillo in
1939. They had all apprenticed in William Spratling’s taller before starting
their own business in Taxco, Mexico. Antonio Castillo rose to the level of
master silversmith during his time working with Spratling.
The Los Castillo workshop trained and employed many skilled silversmiths over
its decades in the business, including the Castillo brothers’ cousin Salvador
Teran, Sigi Pineda, Antonio Pineda, and Antonio Castillo’s wife, Margot van
Voorhies Carr. All these artists went on to open their own successful workshops,
including van Voorhies Carr who founded Margot de Taxco after she and Antonio
Castillo divorced.
Los Castillo is known for its quality silver wares as well as mixed metals that
incorporated copper and/or brass with sterling silver. Other decorative home
accessories can be found with silver plating and inlaid stone embellishments.
Chato (Jorge) Castillo was one of the Castillo brothers who worked in the 1930s
for William Spratling. He is known for his technical expertise and his design
talent. He developed the techniques for married metals, feathers with silver,
Aztec mosaic or stone inlay, concha or abalone inlay,...(Mexican Silver: Modern
Hand-wrought Jewelry & Metalwork by Morrill and Berk (Schiffer: 2007, 4th
Edition), p. 86.
