In this silver box, William Spratling applied gold beads at the intersecting points of a diamond pattern, suggestive of elegance and luxury. The box’s rounded edges endow the form with a sense of softness, demonstrating Spratling’s facility at manipulating the hard metal.
Trained as an architect, Spratling moved from New Orleans to Taxco, Mexico, where he established his first silver workshop in 1931. Working alongside master silversmiths and local apprentices, in 1935 he opened his famed Taller de Las Delicias, which attracted a cohort of international artists, intellectuals, and Hollywood celebrities. Spratling’s emphasis on craftsmanship and his experimentation with different sources, including Mesoamerican art, Art Deco, and modernism, contributed to his great success and helped revitalize the Mexican silver industry. This box was designed at the end of Spratling’s career.
Rachel Kaplan
2025
