Among mid-20th-century Taxco silver designs, few motifs capture the blend of innovation and cultural heritage as elegantly as the dragonfly.

In our upcoming Jewelry Auction: The Unreserved Collection, two rare and remarkable examples—one by William Spratling (1900–1967) and the other by his student Ana María Núñez de Brilanti (1907-1999), founder of the influential Platería Victoria—both unreserved offer collectors a unique opportunity to acquire masterworks from Taxco’s most celebrated silver workshops.

Although their workshops and approaches differed, both designers drew deeply from pre-Columbian art and architecture. Motifs often included dragonflies, serpents, Aztec eagles, jaguars, and abstract geometric forms evocative of ancient temples. They also incorporated native materials—such as amethyst, turquoise, coral, tortoise shell, and tropical woods.

Together, these ancient designs elevated motifs like the dragonfly and other iconic creatures into powerful emblems of Mexican modernism. Through sterling, copper, and mixed metals, their works reveal the artistry, discipline, and vision that fueled Taxco’s meteoric rise as a center of design.

William Spratling

Spratling’s life charts an unusual journey from American architecture professor to pioneering master silversmith. After visiting Mexico in the 1920s, he settled in Taxco in 1929 and soon ignited the movement now known as the Mexican silver renaissance. Celebrated today as the “father of contemporary Mexican silver,” he fused modernist lines with pre-Columbian motifs to create designs that felt both ancient and ahead of their time.

Encouraged by U.S. Ambassador Dwight Morrow, Spratling founded Taller de las Delicias in 1931, reviving a long-dormant craft tradition. By the late 1930s, his workshop employed hundreds of artists and established Taxco as a global hub of silver design. His aesthetic—often described as “Olmec and Deco”—incorporated indigenous forms, geometric abstraction, and native materials such as amethyst, turquoise, and tropical woods.

Spratling was also an influential mentor, shaping the next generation of master silversmiths through his apprentice system. Antonio Pineda, Héctor Aguilar, Margot de Taxco, and the Castillo brothers—all central figures in the Taxco School of design—emerged from his early guidance.

This legacy of craftsmanship is vividly reflected in his own work, including the Vintage William Spratling Taxco Sterling Silver Dragonfly Brooch featured in this auction, which embodies the refinement, imagination, and technical mastery that define his most iconic designs.

**Lot 5189: Designed by William Spratling for his Workshop of Delights (Taller de las Delicias)**

*A sterling silver brooch in the form of a dragonfly, the wings inlaid with tortoiseshell panels. Stamped "Taxco Mexico 925" with maker's mark to reverse.*

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Ana María Núñez de Brilanti

Among those shaped by Spratling’s early influence was Ana María Núñez de Brilanti, who founded Platería Victoria in 1940. One of the few female designers in Taxco, Brilanti became known for her pioneering use of metales casados—mixed-metal compositions that “married” silver, copper, and brass into a single piece.

Her workshop quickly achieved international acclaim. In the early 1940s, Victoria famously produced a commissioned necklace for Eleanor Roosevelt, elevating the studio’s reputation abroad. Brilanti strongly supported Mexico’s 1948 eagle-mark system for quality control; any piece deemed substandard at Victoria was destroyed rather than sold.

Her dragonfly designs—including the Victoria Taxco Sterling and Copper Dragonfly Brooch offered in this auction—demonstrate the refinement, imagination, and technical mastery.

**Lot 5375: Designed by Ana María Núñez de Brilanti for her Victoria workshop**

A finely crafted mixed-metal brooch modeled as a dragonfly with sterling silver wings and copper body. Marked "Victoria Taxco Mexico Sterling," model no. "09," and eagle mark. Designed by Ana María Núñez de Brilanti for her Victoria workshop, known for handwrought silver and copper jewelry blending natural motifs with modernist aesthetics.

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Recognition and Revival

Although Brilanti’s workshop quickly achieved international acclaim and respected during her lifetime, the full scope of Spratling contributions wasn’t widely appreciated until decades after his death. The early 2000s saw a resurgence of interest, led by the landmark traveling exhibition Maestros de Plata: William Spratling and the Mexican Silver Renaissance (2002–2003), which featured over 500 pieces from Spratling and his circle. Publications like Penny C. Morrill’s accompanying catalog further cemented his status as a visionary.

More recently, exhibitions such as The Body Adorned: Artistry and Legacy of the Ancient Americas (2021–22) have placed Spratling’s work within the broader lineage of pre-Columbian art, highlighting his ability to translate Mesoamerican motifs into modern, wearable forms. His jewelry now commands strong attention at major auctions, with collectors actively seeking vintage pieces like the William Spratling Taxco Sterling Silver Dragonfly Brooch, available in our upcoming sale—alongside additional works from Taxco, Mexico, which you can explore here.

Don’t Miss Your Chance

These rare and exceptional treasures from Taxco Mexico will be offered on December 5, 2025 11:00 AM EST and, like the rest of the sale, all items are unreserved. Phone bidding and in-person seats are limited—secure today by calling 207-354-8141 or by registering to Bid Online, or by submitting a Phone/Absentee Bid Form.

For questions on bidding, visit our How to Bid page, or for all other enquiries, please contact us.