History of Mexican Jewelry

Mexican jewelry is primarily made of silver from the local mines.

Jewelry reflects the creator's style and environment. Mexican jewelry is made from silver and is set with various types of stones. Silver was easily accessed from the flourishing mines in Mexico, making it a popular choice for jewelry.

Origin

Ordinary objects were made of silver since the time of the Mayans. It is believed that silver was used as a tribute to the ruling Aztecs. However, it wasn't until the arrival of the Spanish that silver was mined and the Spanish taught the Mexicans how to form it into jewelry.

Taxco

The town of Taxco de Alarcón in the state of Guerrero became a center of silver jewelry making due to the abundance of silver in the surrounding area. In the 18th century, Jose de La Borda developed the mining industry around Taxco and Zacatecas. With political upheaval during the war of independence from Spain and civil war in the 19th century to the early 20th century Mexican revolution, the mining industry was effectively shut down.

Revival

The craft of Mexican silver jewelry was revived in the 1920s and 1930s through the efforts of two Americans fascinated by the arts of Mexico. Fred Davis in Mexico City worked with local silversmith to produce designs that reflected Mexico's ancient Indian heritage. William Spratling, an American architect who had moved to Taxco, established a workshop and trained over 100 Mexican silversmiths. The growing number of tourists were attracted to the unique styles of Mexican jewelry, featuring a primitive look harking back to Aztec influences along with a striking, bold effect with the use of green, black and turquoise stones.

References

• Mexican Antique Jewelry
• Tumi: Mexican Jewelry
• Durango Silver Company: Mexican Silver and Silversmiths Information