William Spratling vintage silver jewelry
William Spratling vintage silver jewelry
Legendary American silver designer and artist William Spratling (1900-1967) was a huge influence on the revival of Mexican silver design in the 20th century. An architect by training, Spratling began rebuilding Taxco’s silver industry in 1931. Initially, he created silver items from pre-Columbian and traditional motifs. In founding his workshop, Taller de las Delicias, he hired local jewelers to implement his designs in silver. Already at the end of the 1930s, more than 500 artisans worked in his workshop. His pieces were sold through the Montgomery Ward catalogs, as well as on Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Noteworthy, he marked his earliest works with interlocking initials WS.
In the 1940s Spratling in partnership with Victor Silson of New York manufactured silver plated jewelry. Accordingly, the marking of this period includes Spratling of Mexico Silson Inc and initials WS. In mid-1940s, he sold most of the shares to Russell Maguire, which eventually led the company to bankruptcy.
However, Spratling rebuilt his workshop in Taxco and began producing silver jewelry and decorative objects in 1952.
Registered in 1957, Mexican branch of William Spratling jewelry trademark went through the changes of owners and registrations. The marking includes WS in the center and “Made in Mexico Spratling” around it, “Spratling Silver”, “WS 980”, and simple script “WS”. In the 1960s, he began producing jewelry with the use of gold, and the marking included “WS” and “18K”.
William Spratling vintage silver jewelry
After the death of Spratling in 1969, Sucesores de William Spratling continued to produce old Spratling designs, as well as new designs into the early 1980’s. Traditionally, they marked their pieces with “925 Silver Taxco S.A. DE C.V. MEXICO. Located in Mexico silver shop Sa De CV William Spratling is still active. The last new owners of the trademark are Veronica Consuelo Urich McGuire and Violante Juanita Urich McGuire, and the status of the trademark since 2006 – registered and renewed.
Markings:
