Sterling silver, copper
Mexico, circa 1940
Hallmarked with primary mark of 1940-46 underneath on pin, engraved
Made in Mexico’/’Spratling’/’Sterling’
William Spratling (1900-1967)
Mid-twentieth Century Modern Style
Two toned three piece set of sun and moon
Brooch: 2”h x 3¼”w; Clip earrings: 1¼”h x 1¼”w

The matching three-piece set of earrings and a pin share the quintessential juxtaposition of a sun and moon. This motif originated from Spratling’s aesthetic vocabulary of pre-Columbian art which aided the inception of a new cultural identity for Mexico. The sun is differentiated by a copper face whereas the crescent profile of the moon with a star has been kept silver.

The pieces show some surface scratches and abrasions. The pin and clips are in good working order.

William Spratling (1900-1967)

William Spratling was born in upstate New York, later moving to Alabama, where he studied architecture at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Upon completion of his studies, he taught architecture at Tulane. He lectured on Colonial architecture at the National University of Mexico’s summer school from 1926-1928. It was there that he became interested in Mexico’s post-revolution socio-political situation. Spratling moved to Taxco, Mexico in 1931 to re-establish a once vital silver industry. Drawing on traditional pre-Columbian motifs, William Spratling created jewelry and household objects which combined ethnic inspiration with current tastes for modern design. His later work showed a greater sense of refinement with less of the pre-Columbian influences. Working in silver, often embellished with exotic wood, he employed local goldsmiths to create his wares by hand. This sense of the hand-crafted object was integral to Spratling’s work and has helped to make his work highly collectible.