William Spratling (American/ex-patriate in Mexico, 1900-1967), Mexico, post 1979 under auspices of Sucesores de William Spratling. A gorgeous sterling silver bracelet faithfully rendered in a classic William Spratling design by the Sucesores de William Spratling at the ranch in Taxco el Viejo. The bracelet features four "knot" links comprised of "X" and overlapping "O" motifs alternating with four stylized cross-like links. Hallmarks on the back of the central "cross" link include a William Spratling Script Square hallmark (ca. 1964 to 1967) as well as "TS-24" to indicate that the piece was created post-1979 under the auspices of Sucesores de William Spratling. Weight: 114.6 grams. Silver quality: 93.6% silver. Size: 7.875" L x 1.125" W (20 cm x 2.9 cm)

William Spratling was an American expatriate artist, author, and entrepreneur best known for his work as a silversmith and designer who revitalized Taxco, Mexico's silver industry in the early to mid 20th century. Spratling made his initial visit to Mexico in 1926 and returned each summer for the next several years. Finally, in 1929, Spratling actually moved to Mexico to be an expatriate, becoming an active member of the vibrant artistic circles of Mexico. Spratling promoted the art of none other than Diego Rivera to New York galleries which led to Rivera's participation in the first exhibition of Mexican visual culture held in the United States, funded by the Carnegie Institute, that opened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

In Mexico, Spratling took notice of the Taxco's silver-mining history and opened a workshop called the Taller de las Delicias, which translates to "Factory of Delights". Years later, he would write: "Nineteen-thirty-one was a notable year in modern Mexican silversmithing. A young silversmith from Iguala named Artemio Navarrete went to Taxco to work for a small silver shop, founded with the germ of an idea, where Artemio, as a nucleus, began to form silversmiths. The present writer, encouraged by his friends Moises Saenz, Dwight Morrow and Diego Rivera, had set up that little shop called 'Las Delicias.'"

Penny Chittim Morrill, Ph.D., who co-authored :Mexican Silver: 20th Century Hand-wrought Jewelry & Silver" with art dealer Carole Berk is the primary authority on Spratling's work. Morrill was the guest curator for the 2002 traveling exhibition entitled, "William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance: Maestros de Plata," organized by the San Diego Museum of Art. In her catalogue essay, Morrill stated, "In establishing silver as an artistic medium, what Spratling achieved was a delicate balance, a synthesis of abstract tendencies in the existent folk art tradition and in contemporary fine art, resulting in a visualization of concepts and ideas. As importantly, the Taller de las Delicias, became the paradigm for other silver designers to follow. Las Delicias was a community in which imagination and innovation were fostered and encouraged as the men learned the art of silversmithing while producing for profit. In the hierarchy of the workshop, these silversmiths advanced according to their ability, enthusiasm, and technical expertise."

Provenance: ex-private Moore collection, Denver, Colorado, USA, acquired prior to 1990

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#168369

Very nice overall with only slight surface scuffs. Bracelet opens and closes. Hallmarks on the back include a William Spratling Script Square hallmark (ca. 1964 to 1967) as well as "TS-24" to indicate that the piece was created post-1979 under the auspices of Sucesores de William Spratling.