WILLIAM SPRATLING 1940 Taxco Deco Retro Earrings In .925 Sterling Silver

Earrings designed by William Spratling.

These are a great pair of three-dimensional earrings, created in Taxco Mexico by the silversmith and jewelry designer William Spratling, back in the 1940. Crafted with art deco influences with a combination of retro elements made up in solid .925/.999 sterling silver. Fitted at the reverse with French screw backs.

Weight: 15.60 Grams, (10.1 Dwt).

Measurements: 32 mm by 29 mm (1.26 x 1.14 Inches).

Hallmarks: They are stamped with two sets of signatures, the maker's mark monogram associated to the period of 1940-1946 (Penny Morrill WS-L), the mark for the assay of the silver and signed in full as follows, "SPRATLING SILVER MADE IN MEXICO".

Spratling Hallmark 

In 1940 Spratling decided that he wanted his name "Spratling" (rather than just his initials) to appear on each of his silver designs, and so he created the primary hallmark, WS Print Circle. This primary mark was used from circa 1940 until circa 1946 when Spratling y Artesanos ceased operations.  The secondary mark, Made in Mexico, appears to have been used only circa 1942. Also in 1940, at the same time that Spratling created a primary mark that featured his name in addition to his initials, he created a tertiary mark that also included his name: Spratling Silver. This new tertiary mark was in use circa 1940 to 1944. During the transition period circa 1940 when Spratling was changing from the tertiary marks 925 and 980 to the tertiary mark Spratling Silver, applied plaques (shown on page 27 Spratling Silver: A Field Guide) were often used over the earlier marks on those silver pieces he had in his inventory.

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.

Collateral: These William Spratling earrings are accompanied by a presentation jewelry box.

Condition: The overall condition of this pair of William Spratling earrings is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the silver. This pair has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: E030925MENJ/.4625