Lot 95
Earring design and goldwork by William Spratling (American, 1900-1967), ca. late 1950s to 1960s CE; jade moths are Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec to early Maya, ca. 900 BCE to 700 CE. Quite an unusual pair of earrings created by none other than William Spratling, the American expatriate artist, author, and entrepreneur best known for his work as a silversmith and designer who revitalized Taxco, Mexico's silver industry in the early to mid 20th century. The exquisitely carved and string-cut pair of matching moths came out of Spratling's personal safe and inspired not only these earrings but also a design that he used in numerous other pieces, including the silver dinner bells also featured in this auction (#125657). The matched jade moths, carved and incised with fine details on both sides are fitted to 18 karat gold settings with screw backs and curvilinear wing-like patterns perhaps inspired by the elegant flying insects as well. Size: moths measure 1.25" L x 1.25" W (3.2 cm x 3.2 cm); 1.75" L (4.4 cm) including gold setting
William Spratling made his initial visit to Mexico in 1926, and returned each summer for the next several years. Finally, in 1929, Spratling actually moved to Mexico to be an expatriate, becoming an active member of the vibrant artistic circles of Mexico. Spratling promoted the art of none other than Diego Rivera to New York galleries which led to Rivera's participation in the first exhibition of Mexican visual culture held in the United States, funded by the Carnegie Institute, that opened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Not only did Spratling assist in curating the exhibition, but he also lent a number of his own pieces. During this same time period, Spratling was working on drawings for the expanding Morrow (US Ambassador to Mexico Dwight Morrow and his wife, the poet Elizabeth Cutter Morrow) home in Cuernavaca. Many of these drawings were included in the book written by Elizabeth Morrow entitled, "Casa Mañana" (Knopf, 1930). It was Ambassador Morrow who suggested that Spratling explore developing the silver industry in Taxco.
Trying to find a way to support himself as an expatriate artist, Spratling took notice of the Taxco's silver-mining history and opened a workshop called the Taller de las Delicias, which translates to "Factory of Delights". Years later, he would write: Nineteen-thirty-one was a notable year in modern Mexican silversmithing. A young silversmith from Iguala named Artemio Navarrete went to Taxco to work for a small silver shop, founded with the germ of an idea, where Artemio, as a nucleus, began to form silversmiths. The present writer, encouraged by his friends Moises Saenz, Dwight Morrow and Diego Rivera, had set up that little shop called Las Delicias.
Penny Chittim Morrill, Ph.D., who co-authored "Mexican Silver: 20th Century Hand-wrought Jewelry & Silver" with art dealer Carole Berk is the primary authority on Spratlings work. Morrill was guest curator for the 2002 traveling exhibition entitled, "William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance: Maestros de Plata," organized by the San Diego Museum of Art. In her catalogue essay, Morrill stated, In establishing silver as an artistic medium, what Spratling achieved was a delicate balance, a synthesis of abstract tendencies in the existent folk art tradition and in contemporary fine art, resulting in a visualization of concepts and ideas. As importantly, the Taller de las Delicias, became the paradigm for other silver designers to follow. Las Delicias was a community in which imagination and innovation were fostered and encouraged as the men learned the art of silversmithing while producing for profit. In the hierarchy of the workshop, these silversmiths advanced according to their ability, enthusiasm, and technical expertise.
Provenance: ex private Salter collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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#125672
- Condition: A small chip to a wing of each moth - upper right for one, lower left for the other. Screw backs are intact and function well. Beautiful and wearable!
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