William Spratling 1945 Purse Box Sterling Silver Taxco, Mexico

Amazing Wiliam Spratling Dominoes set made of ebony wood and silver inlay. William Spratling (September 22, 1900–August 7, 1967) was an Americ...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique William IV English sterling silver table snuff box; an addition to our collectable silverware collection. This exceptional antique William IV sterling silver snuff box has a rectangular, rounded form. The body of the box is embellished with impressive chased floral motifs accented with scrolling stem and foliate ornamentation, all on a matte background. The decoration to the body incorporates a chased single leaf design to each corner, emanating from the rounded lower portion. The upper rim of the body and swept sides of the cover are encompassed with a continuous band of engine turned decoration. The underside of the box features a further panel of engine turned decoration. This exceptional example of antique silverware is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover embellished with an engine turned bordered rectangular vacant cartouche to the upper plateau. The cover is further embellished with an exceptional cast and applied domed, incurved border to the upper portion, matching the ornamentation to that of the body and continuing to an impressive floral thumbpiece to the anterior edge. This antique sterling silver snuff box opens to reveal the original gilded interior. Condition This antique sterling silver snuff box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. The chased and applied ornamentation is all very sharp and the engine turned decoration is all very crisp. Full hallmarks struck to the interior of the box are all very clear. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this antique silverware. Dimensions Length 9.8cm/3.9" Width 6.5cm/2.6" Height 4.3cm/1.7" Weight 8.2 troy ounces/253g Maker: Joseph Willmore...

Amazing Wiliam Spratling Style Dominoes set made of tropical wood and silver inlay.     

A vintage, circa 1940s signed sterling silver bracelet by William Spratling. This design is called Feather of Quetzalcoatl. According to "Spratling Silver: A Field Guide", by Phyllis Goddard, this bracelet was designed during William Spratling's first design period, 1931-1946. But first things first, who is Quetzalcoatl? According to this Wikipedia article, "The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". In the 17th century, Ixtlilxóchitl, a descendant of Aztec royalty and historian of the Nahua people, wrote, "Quetzalcoatl, in its literal sense, means 'serpent of precious feathers' but in the allegorical sense, 'wisest of men'."" Ah! So that must be why Spratling called this design 'Feather of Quetzalcoatl! But hang on there, how did Spratling come to learn about Quetzalcoatl? Well according to the website Elisa Rolle, "When lecturing at the National University of Mexico's Summer School in 1926-1928, Spratling quickly integrated himself into the Mexican art scene and became a friend and a strong proponent of the work of muralist Diego Rivera, for whom he organized an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Using money received from commissions he organized for Rivera, Spratling bought a home in Taxco, Mexico in 1928, where he began work on a book, Little Mexico, about this small mountain town. Spratling was gay, but most accounts of his life mention this only indirectly if at all. Spratling amassed a large collection of Pre-Columbian figurines...

A fine William IV Scottish sterling silver snuff box of rounded rectangular form, the hinged cover depicting a fine village scene with horses, dogs and people in the courtyard, the sides and base engine-turned, the cover opening to reveal a gilt interior. Maker: James Naismith...

Studio executed solid sterling silver lidded container. Piece has an organic modernist design. Marked on base as pictured.