#metalescasados
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loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A 'metales casados' and 'mosaico azteca' Leaf design brooch by Los Castillo circa 1960.

Measures roughly 1.75" each side.

Marked "Los Castillo Taxco", "Cooperativa SCL", "Hecho en Mexico", and "324".

#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #metalescasados #hechoenmexico #mosaicoazteca #handmade
January 25, 2026 at 4:39 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
Super rare vintage 1930s 40s Los Castillo Taxco handmade 'metales casados' Koi Fish brooch designed by Margot.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#handmade #metalescasados #koifish #design #brooch #margotvanvoorhies #loscastillotaxco #mexicansilver #mexicandesign #wearableart #art
A super rare vintage 1930s 40s handmade 'metales casados' (married metals) Mexican Art Deco 'Koi Fish' brooch designed and signed by Margot Van Voorhies Carr (de Taxco) (1897–1985) during her days at Los Castillo when she was married to Antonio Castillo. A large and impressive early 'metales casados' piece from Los Castillo in Taxco. Entirely handmade employing three colors of metals, sterling silver, copper, and brass to produce this dimensional design of a Koi Fish amongst underwater plants and bubbles of air! Designed by Margot Van Voorhies aka Margot de Taxco during her years as head designer at Los Castillo while still married to Antonio Castillo, hence the hand etched signature at back, "Margot de Castillo". I've only seen one other example of this design in over 40 years of collecting Los Castillo, and this is the only example signed by Margot that I have seen EVER! Measures 3.5" tall by 3" wide, and weighs 42 grams total. Marked at back as shown, "Margot de Castillo" hand etched signature at top, followed by stamped marks, "Los Castillo Taxco Sterling Mexico" with early design number "109M". I have collected the works of the Los Castillo atelier for decades, and this is the ONLY example that I have ever seen actually signed by hand by Margot! A true collector's coup, and museum quality! Don't miss out on this opportunity because it's highly unlikely that you will ever see another! Excellent vintage condition.
January 19, 2026 at 5:45 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
A rare 'metales casados' (married metals) sterling silver and copper Mexican modernist Seated Figure Atlas design necklace by Victoria of Taxco circa 1950s.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#handmade #metalescasados #victoriataxco #ananunezdebrilanti #mexicansilver #necklace #modern
A rare vintage 1950s three-color (copper, dark and light silver) 'metales casados' (married metals) Mexican modernist Seated Figure Atlas design necklace created by Ana Nunez de Brilanti for her shops Victoria and Cony in Taxco. The design features a seated figure at front with head facing down, and the arms spread to the sides forming the body of the necklace. Reminds me of the Ancient Greek legend of Atlas shouldering the weight of the world! Such a unique design, and one that I haven't seen before! Ana Nunez was a great admirer and friend of Chato Castillo who invented the 'metales casados' metalworking technique, and she designed several pieces using the technique in a line that she called 'metales'. This set is in three colors - light and dark sterling silver with copper - in a very restrained geometric design! The metales casados technique was very difficult and only the most skilled metalsmiths could master it, and even for the most skilled metalsmiths it was very time consuming and thus expensive for the shops to produce. For these reasons, items using the metals casados technique are no longer produced in Taxco, or anywhere in Mexico for that matter! The necklace measures just under 1-7/8" wide at front, and fits up to a 15.5 to 16" neck at most. Weighs 62 grams, or over 2 ounces. Marked as shown, "Victoria Taxco Mexico", also "Metales Cony" with design number "521". Excellent vintage condition.
December 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A medium size Los Castillo Taxco handmade 'metales casados' (married metals) abstract modernist tray - no doubt designed by Chato Castillo circa 1950s - measures 14" by 9.75".

#loscastillotaxco #handmade #metalescasados #marriedmetals #tray #chatocastillodesigner #mexicanmodernism #midcenturymexico
October 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
A Stella Popowski sterling silver brass and black onyx Mexican modernist letter opener circa 1960.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#handmade #metalescasados #onixnegro #hechoenmexico #stellapopowski #letteropener #midcenturymexico #mexicanmodernism #modernsilver #vintagemodern #art
A super rare vintage 1950s handmade 'metales casados' (married metals) sterling silver brass and black onyx inlay Mexican modernist Face design letter opener/knife designed by Stella Popowski in Taxco. Popowski was a Polish jewish emigre who fled the Nazis in Europe to Cuba in the late 1930s with her parents and siblings. After the war, she studied art in Paris. She lived and worked in Taxco in the 1950s to early 1960s and designed jewelry for Los Castillo, Antonio Pineda, and later for herself in her own studio. She was not a silversmith, so she designed the jewelry and had it executed by a number of different silversmiths in Taxco. In the mid-1960s she moved to southern California where she concentrated on her painting and design projects. This is a very rare and early design from the Popowski taller in Taxco. I've only seen one other example of this design EVER in my 45+ year career! It measures 6" long by 1-1/8" wide, and weighs 29.7 grams total. Marked as shown, "Popowski Sterling". Excellent vintage condition.
October 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
A humongous one of a kind 'piedra artistica' pre-Columbian figure brooch by Tono of Taxco circa 1970 - measures 5" tall!

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#tonotaxco #mexicansilver #metalescasados #piedraartistica #taxco #mexicanjewelry #wearableart #oneofakind #statementjewelry #art
An immense vintage 1960s 70s handmade sterling silver 'metales casados' (sterling, copper, brass) carved lapis lazuli and stone inlay pre-Columbian Chieftain design brooch pin/pendant by Tono of Taxco, and from his rare one of a kind series 'Piedra Artistica'. Entirely handmade hand crafted in 'metales casados' (married metals) using sterling brass and copper with a carved lapis lazuli 'face', and with azurite and malachite stone inlay in the 'headdress', and with azurmalachite stone inlay in the dangles below. The entire piece is backed in sterling silver. Really a tour de force one of a kind piece of vintage Mexican wearable art inspired by ancient Mesoamerican cultures and their artworks! Measures 5" tall by 3" widest, and weighs 68.7 grams total. Marked as shown at back, "Tono" the maker, "Cecilia" a shop that he occasionally sold his pieces through, "Piedra Artistica" his rare one of a kind line of unique pieces, "Hecho en Mexico" (made in Mexico), "Taxco 925 Sterling", and design number "421". Needless to say, I've never seen this design before despite collecting his works for a couple decades, and this pin/pendant is in flawless condition with no missing or damaged parts or inlay. For a piece this large and complex, that's a minor miracle! Excellent vintage condition.
September 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
Wolmar Castillo
the son of Antonio Castillo of Los Castillo
metales casados (married metals)
coffee pot, creamer, sugar
circa 2000

#wolmarcastillo
#antoniocastillo #loscastillotaxco #mexicandesign #disenomexicano #handmade #hechoenmexico #oneofakind #coffeeset #metalescasados #marriedmetals
September 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A classic Chato Castillo design for Los Castillo in Taxco in married metals with black onyx 'eye' - original design from 1943!

#chatocastillodesign #loscastillotaxco #taxco #metalescasados #marriedmetals #bird #tray #mexicanmodernism #metalsmith #midcenturymexico #mexicansilver #taxcosilver #plata
First created by Chato Castillo in 1943, this design is a perennial favorite of fans of Mexican modernist design and of Los Castillo. I've seen examples of it in many different sizes and with many different color stones for 'eyes', and from every decade from the 1940s to the 1990s!
September 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A Los Castillo Taxco married metals and pre Columbian green stone ear-spool bracelet with dangles - designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo circa 1960.

#handmade #metalescastillo #metalescasados #marriedmetals #precolumbian #mexicansilver #mexicanjewelry #loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign
Chato Castillo was one of the four founding brothers of Los Castillo in Taxco, Mexico, in 1939. He was a silversmith, a designer, and a technical innovator who invented many unique metalworking techniques including: 'metales casados' (married metals), 'mosaico azteca' (mosaic stone inlay), the 'pluma azteca' (feather inlay), among others! His techniques were widely copied by other silversmiths and designers throughout Mexico, and became emblematic of the Mexican mid-century modernist style! Although many other designers in Mexico used pre-Columbian artifacts in their creations, Chato found new and unique ways of doing so, and this bracelet is an excellent example! Composed of metales casados (copper and brass) over sterling silver, and centering a pre-Columbian green stone ear spool at center top from which drops a triangular metals casados plaque with size copper and bronze drops. This particular design was made in many variations over the years by Chato, and his brother Antonio after Chato's death, but each was unique - no two were exactly the same!
August 31, 2025 at 3:22 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
Handmade vintage 1980s silver-plated brass box with rosewood interior and 'metales casados' decorated top set in a 'mosaico azteca' surround - designed by Antonio Castillo. NFS

#handmade #silverplate #box #metalescasados #mosaicoazteca #precolumbian #indigenous #loscastillotaxco #hechoenmexico #art
This box was made in the last two decades of the long career of Antonio Castillo, one of the four founding brothers of Los Castillo in Taxco. Made circa 1980s, the box was hand fabricated in brass, then silver-plated. The inside has Mexican rosewood lining. The top is decorated with two techniques first invented by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in the 1940s; 'metales casados' (married metals), and 'mosaico azteca' (Aztec mosaic stone inlay). Metales Casados is the seamless joining of different colored metals using little if any solder to produce a design. In this case, a group of indigenous peoples of Ancient Mexico are shown in what is likely a market scene with a vendor selling fish and flowers to her customers. The scene is set in a mosaic of thin stone pieces inlaid to create a quilt-like effect, but in stone. Both 'metales casados' and 'mosaic azteca' were based on metal and stone working techniques of the ancient peoples of Mexico, but were re-invented by Chato Castillo and first used by Los Castillo in Taxco. Their work was a great success, and soon copied by many others throughout Mexico (and beyond!) to this day! Chato Castillo died in the mid-1970s. His brother, Antonio, revived his techniques, and used them in this superb creation of metal and stone! Truly a luxury item, it was probably first sold by Neiman Marcus in one of their stores in the US. Though Antonio made a number of these boxes over the years, each was a unique work of art, and uniquely Mexican!
August 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
One of a kind vintage 1950s handmade sterling and four-color 'metales casados' Mexican modernist geometric Harlequin ring designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco - size 10.5 US!

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#loscastillotaxco #chatodesign #metalescasados #ring
An incredible vintage 1950s 60s one of a kind handmade sterling silver and four color 'metales casados' (married metals) Mexican modernist Harlequin geometric design cocktail ring designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo of Taxco. Exceptional artistry only accomplished by Los Castillo at the height of their glory in the 1950s and 60s! The ring is sterling silver with a thin layer of four-color metales casados (copper, brass, light and dark silver) laid overtop covering all of the outside surfaces, but the sterling is visible on the inside of the band. The only example of this design that I have seen in my 45+ year career, and without a doubt a one of a kind creation, and designed by Chato who also invented the 'metales casados' metalworking technique among many others over the course of his career in Taxco! Measures 1-1/8" long at top by 15/16" wide, size 10-1/4 to 10-1/2 US, and weighs 15.5 grams total. Marked inside band as shown, "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle above "Mexico". Metales Casados pieces were rarely if ever marked 'sterling" as they involved heaping portions of other metals in the decorative technique. Tested and guaranteed to be as described. As noted above, this is a one of a kind creation designed, and perhaps made by, Chato himself for his family business Los Castillo in Taxco. You'll never see another! Excellent vintage condition.
July 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
Big vintage 1950s Los Castillo Taxco handmade 'metales casados' (married metals) geometric Mexican modernist earrings - measure 2-3/8" tall! NFS

#loscastillotaxco #handmade #metalescasados #marriedmetals #mexicansilver #wearableart #art #earrings #jewelrydesign #modernism #taxco #geometric #design
It's hard to tell from the photos, but these earrings are in five (5) shades of metal! Silver, two shades of copper, and two shades of brass! I've seen up to seven shades of metal used by Los Castillo in one object, but that is very rare. Five shades is their usual maximum, and more often you will see only three colors of metal, copper, silver, and brass. backside of geometric metales casados (married metals) five shades of metal geometric modernist earrings by Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico
July 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
A sculptural pair of married metals (sterling and copper) dimensional modernist earrings by Enrique Ledesma of Taxco circa 1950s.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#enriqueledesmataxco #handmade #modernist #earrings #hechoenmexico #vintagemodern #metalescasados #wearableart #jewelry
A sculptural pair of vintage 1950s 60s handmade mixed metal sterling silver and copper Mexican modernist screwback earrings by Enrique Ledesma of Taxco. Ledesma here plays with dimensional shapes with a convex oval silver dish and a 3D teardrop silver and copper shape laying over the dish and extending past it coming to a point! A unique and rare design! Like many of his contemporaries, Ledesma started out working for Spratling, then worked for Hector Aguilar before opening his own shop, "Plateria Ledesma" in 1950 in Taxco. His work is noted for having superb craftsmanship and distinctive mid century modernist design with a Mexican flair! These exceptional earrings measure 1-1/8" long by 3/4" wide, and the pair weigh 6.5 grams total making them lightweight and comfortable to wear all day. Marked as shown, "Ledesma" with the Eagle 3 on one earring, and "Taxco 925" and the Eagle 3 on the other earring. Excellent vintage condition.
June 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A Los Castillo Taxco sterling and copper letter opener circa 1950 - a 'metales casados' (married metals) blade, and the handle wrapped in sterling wire - measures 8.5" long and weighs 115 grams!

#loscastillotaxco #mexicansilver #handmade #hechoenmexico #metalescastillo #metalescasados #mexico #art
June 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A Los Castillo Taxco sterling and copper letter opener circa 1950 - a 'metales casados' (married metals) blade, and the handle wrapped in sterling wire - measures 8.5" long and weighs 115 grams!

#loscastillotaxco #mexicansilver #handmade #hechoenmexico #metalescastillo #metalescasados #mexico #art
June 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
An Antonio Castillo metales casados (sterling, copper, brass) belt buckle with inlaid tortoiseshell and black onyx in the design of a jaguar circa 1980s.

#loscastillotaxco #antoniocastillotaxco #metalescasados #handmade #jaguar #beltbuckle #mexicansilver #wearableart #oneofakind #hechoenmexico #art
Looks like a Chato design adapted by Antonio in the 1980s not too long after Chato's death in the mid-1970s. Unusual use of tortoiseshell which looks wonderful with the other materials. There are two shades of silver used in this design, the darker silver forming the outline of the buckle, and the brighter lighter silver used to create the 'teeth' of the jaguar. Total of four colors of metal used in this design. The black 'eye' and interior cavity of the mouth are formed from black onyx inlay. Marked as shown, "Mexico" above the "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle, above the Antonio Castillo post 1980 Mexican silver registry mark, "TA-01". These marks date this brooch without doubt to the post-1980 period, anytime from 1980 to Antonio's death in 2000.
May 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A Quetzalcoatl feathered snake deity design brooch/pendant by Los Castillo circa 1960 - designed by Chato and constructed of metales casados (sterling, copper, brass) with black onyx and sodalite stone inlay.

#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #metalescasados #onixnegro #quetzalcoatl #brooch
In pre-Columbian cultures, snakes held significant symbolic importance, often representing life, fertility, rebirth, and the connection between earth, sky, and underworld. Snakes were revered as messengers of the gods, symbols of healing, and even associated with the creation of the universe. One of the most prominent examples is the Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent deity, a central figure in Mesoamerican mythology. The Brothers Castillo were big pre-Columbian collectors, and in those days there were few if any laws regarding the acquisition or sale of ancient Mesoamerican relics. Many of their designs were inspired by ancient Aztec Mayan or Olmec objects, though they were translated into their modernist aesthetic and using modern construction techniques and materials. In this case, Chato used metales casados (married metals) to combine three metals (sterling, copper, brass) seamlessly in the design. He also used onix negro (black onyx) and sodalite stone inlay. Considering the design, the materials and construction techniques, and the marks at back, I'm circa dating this brooch/pendant to the late 1950s to early 1960s. Besides "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle, the brooch is also marked "Hecho en Mexico" (Made in Mexico), design number "36", the Eagle 3, and "SMM925". In the late 1950s to early 1960s, there was labor unrest in Taxco, and even the great workshops like Los Castillo had difficulties staying solvent at the time. The Eagle 3 is not their regular Eagle mark, but the general mark for Taxco that was used by hundreds of shops, and the "SMM925" mark probably means that Los Castillo had this brooch made by the silversmith "SMM" of 925 sterling silver for them when their main workshops were closed due to the strikes.
May 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A Stella Popowski design for Los Castillo Taxco circa 1955 which was made into cufflinks, belt buckles, and this box.

#marriedmetals #metalescasados #onixnegro #blackonyx #turquoise #inlay #handmade #box #cufflinks #beltbuckle #midcenturymexico #mexicanmodernism #loscastillotaxco #stellapopowski
Designed by Stella Popowski for Los Castillo in Taxco. This box has a sterling silver lid frame with metales casados (sterling and brass) that also includes black onyx and turquoise inlay in an abstract geometric design. The design reminds me of shapes viewed through a fun house mirror, everything seems a little off kilter! Measures a bit over 4” long by about 3” wide by just under 2” tall. The sterling lid fits loosely over the handmade Mexican redwood box base. These boxes by Popowski are really little artworks to place on a table or shelf, although they can be used for practical purposes too. Popowski was a Jewish emigré from Poland just before the Second World War whose family moved to Cuba first, then a few years later to Mexico. Popowski designed for Antonio Pineda and Los Castillo before opening her own workshop in the late 1950s in Taxco. She left Mexico in the early to mid 1960s for Southern California where she lived in the LA area before ending up in the suburbs of San Diego. She created unique artworks using a variety of techniques including oils and watercolors, and designed decorative objects like menus and greeting cards. Her unique artworks were shown in a great many galleries and art fairs in Southern California in her final years alongside many of the perhaps better recognized artists from the area. NFS. A Los Castillo Stella Popowski design handmade onix negro box with matching belt buckle in metales casados, onix negro and turquoise - this is the most typical color combination found in Popowski designs for Los Castillo, and since most pieces found these days are in this combination, I am guessing that it was the most popular at the time of their creation - I also have the matching cufflinks in my collection, and I’m always looking for more examples/forms for this and other Popowski designs for Los Castillo! NFS
May 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A vintage 1980s 90s 'mosaico azteca' (stone inlay) and 'metales casados' (married metals) pre Columbian Mayan figure box - measures 30.5 cm across!

#loscastillotaxco #handmade #mosaicoazteca #metalescasados #precolumbian #mayanfigure #box #mexicansilver #taxco #hechoenmexico #antoniocastillodesign
Made sometime in the last two decades of his life, this box was designed by Antonio Castillo, one of the four Castillo brothers who became Los Castillo in Taxco in the late 1930s. There were many other talented designers at Los Castillo including Antonio's wife, Margot Van Voorhies, who later became "Margot de Taxco" and famous in her own right for her incredible enameled jewelry. Salvador Teran, who was cousin to the Castillo brothers, also was an early designer at Los Castillo. Perhaps the greatest technical innovator and designer of all who worked at Los Castillo was Jorge 'Chato' Castillo who invented both the 'mosaico azteca' (mosaic stone inlay) technique, and the 'metales casados' (married metals) technique used in the creation of this box. A very large example at 30.5 cm across, about 12". No doubt originally intended to be a cigar box, but could be used for jewelry, knick-knacks, keys, change, cufflinks, you name it!
May 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
A one of a kind vintage 1950s handmade metales casados in six colors of metal Mexican modernist Quetzalcoatl the Winged Serpent pitcher and stir spoon set.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#oneofakind #metalescasados #pitcher #quetzalcoatl #aztec #precolumbian #wingedserpent #mexico
A magnificent and very rare one of a kind vintage 1950s handmade metales casados (married/mixed metals) 6 color copper brass and silver pre-Columbian inspired Mexican modernist Aztec Quetzalcoatl winged-serpent/dragon design pitcher from Taxco, and with the matching and elaborate mixed metals stir spoon. Perfect for an elegant cocktail party, or to celebrate in style! An incredible find, and probably one of the most elaborate and superbly crafted pitchers that I have run across or seen anywhere in my 45+ year career! A masterpiece of mid century metales casados craftsmanship in Taxco! Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec god of light, life, the wind, wisdom and learning, and the arts and crafts. A flying serpent, he is the Aztec equivalent of a dragon, and is depicted in five colors of metal. He is shown with his tongue protruding which in pre-Columbian cultures often was a ritualistic gesture signifying fertility. In six shades of metal, both dark and light copper, brass, and three shades of silver! The Quetzalcoatl serpent/dragon stretches around the outer circumference of the pitcher at the middle against a background of copper, with bands of silver at bottom, and brass at top, and with a dark silver spout. The top of the pitcher is copper, and the handle is in copper and brass. The elaborate three color metal stir spoon is in silver, copper and brass. The pitcher measures 9-5/8" tall by 6-1/2" from handle to tip of the spout by 4-1/2" diameter at top. The spoon measures 12-3/4" long by 1-1/4" wide. The pitcher is marked only "Taxco Mexico", and is no doubt a one of a kind creation likely a special commission, and could be the work of only one of the top taller in Taxco due to the superlative craftsmanship. I'm guessing it's a product of the Victoria taller, but unfortunately any documentation has been lost over the years. Excellent vintage condition.
April 29, 2025 at 2:57 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
A masterpiece of Mexican modernist metalwork - four colors of metal create an abstract design pitcher with a philodendron leaf at top by Los Castillo of Taxco circa 1955.

Available...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#loscastillotaxco #philodendron #pitcher #hechoenmexico #metalescasados #chato
A superb vintage 1950s handmade 'metales casados' (married metals mixed metals (silver, copper, brass, and dark silver) Mexican modernist Philodendron Leaf pitcher designed by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco. An incredible artwork in addition to being one of the most technically demanding of pitchers to hand fabricate! Designed by Chato Castillo in the early 1950s, and an iconic example of what I call his 'patchwork' design in married metals, the joining together in geometric shapes of various metals using the metales casados technique. Los Castillo made many items in the 'patchwork' design including trays of various sizes and other large serving dishes in addition to salt and peppers sets, smaller drink shakers/pitchers, cups of various sizes, and even several designs in jewelry as well! This pitcher measures about 9.5" tall by 10.25" across from handle to spout. Marked at bottom as shown, "Hecho en Mexico Handwrought Los Castillo Taxco Metales Castillo" and the design number 95 that was used for most everything made in the patchwork design except for the jewelry items. In excellent vintage condition.
April 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A 1960s Chato Castillo design for Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico - a bracelet in metales casados with a 2000 year old Mayan green stone ear plug. NFS

#chatocastillodesign #loscastillotaxco #handmade #metalescasados #marriedmetals #ancient #mayan #greenstone #earplug #precolumbian #hechoenmexico
An incredible vintage 1960s Los Castillo handmade metales casados and pre-Columbian green stone Mexican modernist bracelet designed by Chato Castillo in the 1960s - Chato and his brother Antonio Castillo made a number of variations of this design in bracelets, necklaces, and rings over the years and I believe that all of them are unique and one of a kind as I’ve never seen two that were exactly the same - this example made in sterling silver, copper and brass, and centers a pre-Columbian green stone ear plug (1500-2000 years old!) likely of Mayan origin on top of which is a metales casados triangular section with dangles in copper and brass. NFS
April 1, 2025 at 4:33 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
Antonio Castillo of Los Castillo design of a Toucan on a branch brooch in 'metales casados' with stone inlay - measures 2.5" tall!

Available in my Ruby Lane shop...

www.rubylane.com/item/1879775...

#loscastillotaxco #antoniocastillotaxco #metalescasados #hechoenmexico #wearableart #art #brooch
A superb vintage 1980s 90s handmade metales casados (sterling silver, copper, brass) and azurmalachite stone inlay Mexican modernist Toucan on a Branch design pin/pendant designed by Antonio Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco. A superb example of the 'metales casados' (married metals) metalworking technique, and with a touch of the 'mosaico azteca' stone inlay technique in the leaves on the branch! An Antonio Castillo design from the final decades of his life, and the final decades of the original Los Castillo taller in Taxco. Very heavy example, superb craftsmanship, and in great shape! Measures 2.5" tall by 2.5" wide, and weighs a substantial 37 grams total (this piece is solid, not hollowed out at back). Marked as shown, "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle, "Metales Casados", "Sterling Mexico 925", and the Antonio Castillo post-1980 Mexican registry mark, "TA-01". Excellent vintage condition.
March 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A vintage 1960s 70s 'metales casados' (married metals) and 'mosaico azteca' (Aztec mosaic) stone inlay modernist Snake design box by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco, Mexico.

#loscastillotaxco #handmade #chatocastillodesign #mosaicoazteca #metalescasados #hechoenmexico #taxco #box #snake
An incredible vintage 1960s 70s Los Castillo three-color metales casados Snake design lidded box - the metales casados Snake design is surrounded by blue and green resin with inset pieces of azurmalachite - the proportion of colored resin to natural stone is much higher than that found in earlier examples, and so I am guessing that this box is later, the late 60s or even early 1970s, which means that it is likely one of the last designs by Chato Castillo prior to his death in the mid-1970s. The remainder of the box is brass with redwood (possibly cocobolo wood) inner paneling, and with the usual period Los Castillo marks including design number 346. Measures 7.5” wide by 4” deep by 0.75” tall. NFS.
March 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A very large 'metales casados' (married metals) abstracted Deer design tray by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco - in four colors of metal: copper, brass, dark and light silver. Designed by Chato circa 1955.

#chatocastillodesign #loscastillotaxco #metalescasados #metalart #art #hechoenmexico
A large vintage 1950s Los Castillo ‘metales casados’ (married metals) modernist Deer design oval tray in four colors of metal - brass, copper, dark and light silver - designed by Chato, and made in the Los Castillo workshop in Taxco. Measures 14.75” tall by 9.75” wide. Marked at back as shown, “Los Castillo Taxco” in a circle above “Handwrought”, “Hecho en Mexico”, and design number “241”. Weighs about 28 ounces. This design was made in various sizes and shapes, and this is one of the largest that I have seen of it.
March 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM