Los Castillo Taxco Silver Plate & Malachite Lidded Bowl, Mexico 1960s

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Description

Exceptional 1960s Mexican Modernist lidded bowl by Los Castillo, handcrafted in Taxco, Mexico. This sculptural vessel combines the workshop’s celebrated … Read more Exceptional 1960s Mexican Modernist lidded bowl by Los Castillo, handcrafted in Taxco, Mexico. This sculptural vessel combines the workshop’s celebrated metalworking tradition with the colorful stone-inlay techniques that became a signature of Los Castillo design.

The bowl is constructed of solid copper with a silver-plated finish and features a bold rounded, lobed form reminiscent of overlapping petals. The upper portion is decorated with an intricate geometric mosaic of natural malachite, composed of individually cut pieces in varied shades of green with darker mineral accents. A scalloped silver border follows the contours of the body, beautifully framing the stonework. The removable hand-worked lid is finished with a spherical finial.

Founded in Taxco in 1939 by Antonio Castillo and his brothers, Los Castillo became one of the most influential workshops of the 20th-century Mexican silversmithing movement. Antonio Castillo had previously worked with William Spratling, a central figure in Taxco's silver renaissance. Los Castillo developed its own distinctive aesthetic, combining traditional Mexican craftsmanship with Modernist forms, Pre-Columbian influences, hammered metals and colorful stone mosaics.

The workshop became especially recognized for experimenting beyond conventional sterling silver, incorporating silver-plated copper, mixed metals, malachite, turquoise, azurite and other natural stones into highly sculptural decorative objects. Today, Los Castillo is collected alongside important Taxco designers including William Spratling, Hector Aguilar and Margot de Taxco.

An outstanding decorative object for interior designers, architects and collectors of Mexican Modernism and Mid-Century design. Its combination of reflective silver and richly colored malachite makes it an excellent centerpiece for a cocktail table, console, credenza, dining table or library.

The underside retains the original Los Castillo hallmark: Los Castillo, Taxco, TA-01, Hecho en Mexico, Plateado.

Dimensions: 5 in. high × 7 in. diameter.

Condition: Vintage condition consistent with age and use. The silver-plated surface displays wear, oxidation, scratches and areas where the underlying copper is showing through, as illustrated in the photographs. The malachite displays natural variations associated with individually cut stone. See less