By Emilia Castillo, Los Castillo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare and highly decorative hand mirror by celebrated Mexican designer and metalsmith Emilia Castillo, created in Taxco, Mexico, circa 1970s. Sculpted in the form of a stylized fish, the mirror combines silver-plated metal with an extraordinary mosaic of richly variegated green malachite, creating an object that is at once functional, sculptural, and distinctly Mexican in character.
The front is meticulously inlaid with individually fitted pieces of malachite, retaining the natural variations, veining, and tonal depth of the stone. Applied silver-tone elements define the fish's eye, mouth, fin, tail, and perimeter, giving the composition its wonderfully graphic quality. The reverse incorporates a beveled mirror within the fish-shaped frame.
Of particular interest to collectors is the early “Mimi Castillo” signature. Emilia Castillo was known as Mimi in her youth, and this mark is associated with the formative period of her career, when she was still working within the artistic environment established by her father, Antonio Castillo.
Antonio Castillo was one of the founders of the legendary Los Castillo workshop in Taxco, part of the generation of Mexican silversmiths who helped establish the city as an internationally recognized center for modern silver and decorative arts. Growing up within this remarkable creative tradition, Emilia developed an extensive knowledge of metalsmithing while ultimately establishing a visual language of her own. Her later work became particularly celebrated for imaginative combinations of silver, stone, natural materials, and sculptural forms inspired by Mexico's flora and fauna.
This early fish mirror...
Category
1970s Mexican Modern Vintage Emilia Castillo
MaterialsMalachite, Silver Plate, Brass, Copper
