A sugar and creamer set by Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico offers hand crafted hammered silver plate construction with carved hardstone figural lizard handles, maker mark on base as photographed, c1950. Measures- 5.5''h x 4''w x 4''dCatalog Note:Los Castillo, the well-known Mexican silversmiths of the picturesque city of Taxco, was established in 1939. The name refers to the brothers Antonio, Jorge, Miguel and Justo Castillo whose skills were developed at a young age under the influence of William Spratling (22 September 1900 – 7 August 1967). Writing from Taxco on the day of Spratling's death, caused when his car struck a tree after swerving to avoid something in the road, a correspondent noted that he was an 'internationally known author, artist and father of the silver jewelry industry here. . . . The man who later became known as ''Silver Bill'' Spratling came to Mexico in 1928 as a young professor of architecture, sent from Tulane University in New Orleans to lecture at the University of Mexico. He made his home here and built a silversmith shop on a mountainside just outside Taxco, which became a tourist attraction and led to Taxco's fame as a jewelry center.' (The Daily New, New York, New York, Tuesday, 8 August 1967, final edition, p. 37c) Spratling opened his Taxco shop, Taller de las Delicias in 1931 for the sale of local hand-made furniture, serapes (characteristic Latin American shawls and blankets), jewellery and silver.At 16 years of age in 1929, Antonio was the first of the Castillo brothers to join Spratling as an apprentice. The eventual success of their enterprise was based on their individual skills, both as silversmiths and as designers. Their work, as the present cigar box shows, was inspired by old Aztec figures and decoration, which over the years have become increasingly diverse and popular. Los Castillo lives on in the hands of Antonio Castillo's daughter, Emilia and her two daughters. (Sotheby's)*** OPTIONAL SHIPPING & DELIVERY - While onsite retrieval is always welcome at no charge, this item can be delivered within 1,000 MILES of NEW YORK at the "Flat-Rate Shipping" quote provided in the listing. In-House Shipping & Delivery QUICK QUOTES for items requiring DELIVERY OUTSIDE OF THIS RANGE are available UPON REQUEST. Also, we employ NO-CONTACT PRACTICES in the transfer of purchased items and free storage is available for up to 60 days UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.***

Overall very good condition and as photographed