WILLIAM SPRATLING 1950 Desk Box Set Of Dices In Carved Wood & Nickeled Silver

Desk box set of dices designed by William Spratling.

This is a very decorative desk box with dices created in Taxco Mexico by the silversmith and jewelry designer William Spratling, back in the 1950. Masterfully crafted with mid-century patterns with parts in precious wood and nickeled silver. The box was made up in the shape of a giant dice which is holding in the interior with other five small dices.

Country: Mexico.

Period: Post War, Mid-Century, 1950.

Weight: 157.60 Grams, (101.10 Dwt), (0.16 Kg)

Measurements: 63.5 mm by 63.5 mm by 63.5 mm (2.50 x 2.50 x 2.50 Inches).

William Phillips Spratling

He was born in September 22 1900, in Sonyea, N.Y. He was an American designer and architect, who spent more than 30 years in Mexico developing and promoting the silver craft that made the city of Taxco famous. A graduate of the New York Fine Arts Institute and Auburn University, in Alabama (where he studied architecture), Spratling taught art and architecture at Tulane University, New Orleans, La., for eight years before going to Mexico. In 1926, William Spratling, traveled to Mexico to deliver a lecture at the National University of Mexico. He fell in love with the place and especially with the historic silver mining city of Taxco where he bought a home. By 1931 Spratling had opened a shop dealing in silver articles of his own design. Over the next thirty-five years, Spratling employed a host of craftsmen to execute the designs which Mexico, its history, art, archaeology, and tradition inspired in him. For two years he taught at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City (1927–29) and then settled in Taxco, an old silver town (founded in 1528) that had long been in decay. He befriended silver artisans from all over Mexico and began the design of silver jewelry, artwork, tableware, and tea sets, opening his first taller, or workshop, on the Calle Las Delicias in 1933. After World War II his workshop went bankrupt, but he continued his work from a nearby ranch. His example inspired the founding of hundreds of competing workshops.

Literature: Penny C. Morrill, William Spratling & The Mexican Silver Renaissance Maestros de Plata, Harry N. Abrams Editors Inc 1st edition, 2002. Penny C. Morrill, Silver Master of Mexico, Shiffer 1996. Penny C. Morrill. Mexican Silver: 20th Century Handwrought Jewelry & Metalwork. Shiffer 1998. For similar examples illustrated.

Condition: The overall condition of this William Spratling dice box-set is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage. This piece was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: D012026SNMH/.6701