1980s Pure Silver & Porcelain Cat Salt and Pepper Set by Emilia Castillo

Details

Description

A whimsical and beautifully crafted pair of porcelain and pure silver salt and pepper shakers designed and handmade in Taxco, … Read more A whimsical and beautifully crafted pair of porcelain and pure silver salt and pepper shakers designed and handmade in Taxco, Mexico by celebrated artist Emilia Castillo. This charming set features two stylized cats resting atop rounded pouf bases, one rendered in matte white porcelain and the other in deep midnight black. Each piece is richly adorned with hand-applied sterling silver inlay, including stripes, spots, facial features, and decorative accents around the base.

Every silver detail is individually worked and inlaid—a signature hallmark of Castillo’s meticulous approach to mixed-media functional art. The cats' soft sculptural forms, combined with shimmering metallic decoration, give the pair a luxurious yet playful presence suitable for both table use and display.

Both shakers are fully signed:
“Emilia Castillo, Plata Pura, Mexico, M.R.”

White cat marked #4

Black cat marked #11

These pieces reflect Castillo’s deep lineage in the renowned Taxco silversmith movement, founded by her family’s legendary workshop Los Castillo / Metales Casados, one of the most influential design studios in Mexico. Emilia continues this legacy by blending traditional Mexican silverwork, hand-tooled porcelain, and distinctive naturalistic and animal forms, making her work highly collectible internationally.

Measurements (each):
2.25 in high (5.7 cm)
2.25 in wide (5.7 cm)
2.25 in deep (5.7 cm)

A rare and endearing pair—ideal for collectors of Mexican decorative arts, Taxco silver, Emilia Castillo ceramics, or whimsical sculptural tableware. See less