In this cross pendant, William Spratling combined his interest in Mexican popular art and his distinctly modern sensibilities. The large central cross with smaller ones hanging from its arms and base is associated with the village of Yalálag in Oaxaca, and draws from both Indigenous and Christian traditions.
An architect from New Orleans, Spratling established his first workshop in Taxco, Mexico, in 1931, working alongside a local master silversmith and several young apprentices. A brilliant marketing strategist, Spratling set out to reinvigorate Taxco’s economy by employing local artisans, catalyzing a renaissance in the Mexican silver industry. Insistence on handiwork and experimentation contributed to a thriving local industry. Designers and craftspeople drew on and creatively reinterpreted a variety of sources, including Mesoamerican art, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, and modernist motifs.
Ilona Katzew and Rachel Kaplan
2024
