1960s Los Castillo Taxco Mexican Modernist Silver Plate Copper Sculptural Bowl

Details

Description

A striking vintage Mexican Modernist sculptural bowl by Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico, handcrafted in solid copper and finished in … Read more A striking vintage Mexican Modernist sculptural bowl by Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico, handcrafted in solid copper and finished in silver plate. Measuring approximately 12 inches in diameter by 5.50 inches high, this substantial vessel has a bold, low-profile form with an exceptionally decorative hand-worked surface.

The bowl features a richly hand-hammered silver-plated copper body embellished with dramatic radiating, leaf-like repoussé forms surrounding the circular opening. A second sequence of deeply modeled pointed elements wraps around the perimeter, creating a rhythmic sculptural profile reminiscent of petals, sun rays or stylized botanical forms. The contrast between the highly reflective silver-plated surface, hammered texture and areas where the warm copper substrate is beginning to reveal itself gives the piece tremendous visual depth.

For interior designers and architects, this is an especially versatile piece. Its generous 12-inch scale and strong silhouette allow it to function beautifully as a centerpiece bowl, decorative vessel, console table object, cocktail table accessory or sculptural centerpiece. It would work particularly well within Mexican Modernist, Mid-Century Modern, Brutalist, organic modern, contemporary or eclectic interiors. The combination of warm copper showing through the cool silver surface gives the vessel a character that pairs particularly well with stone, walnut, oak, lacquer, bronze and other natural materials.

The underside retains the Los Castillo / Taxco / Mexico / Plated workshop marks.

Los Castillo was established in Taxco by the Castillo brothers—Antonio, Jorge, Justo and Miguel—after they left William Spratling's influential Taller de Las Delicias in 1939 to establish their own workshop. Antonio Castillo's wife, Margot van Voorhies Carr, later known as Margot de Taxco, served as an important early designer for the workshop.

Los Castillo emerged during the extraordinary revival of Mexican silver and decorative arts centered in Taxco during the mid-20th century. Their work belongs to the same important design movement associated with William Spratling, Héctor Aguilar, Margot de Taxco and Salvador Terán. Spratling's workshops played a foundational role in revitalizing Taxco's modern silver industry, while designers including Aguilar and Terán subsequently established their own distinctive practices.

Today, vintage Los Castillo objects are particularly appealing to collectors of Mexican Modernism, Taxco silver, Mexican metalwork and 20th-century Latin American design, while their sculptural quality makes them equally relevant for sophisticated contemporary interiors.

Condition: Good vintage condition with age-appropriate surface wear. There is visible copper picking and copper showing through the silver plating along raised edges and high points, consistent with age and use. Minor oxidation, surface marks and variations to the silver-plated finish are present. These characteristics contribute to the vessel's authentic vintage patina. The piece presents beautifully.

Dimensions: Approximately 12 in. diameter × 5.50 in. high. See less