History of Mexican Jewelry
History of Mexican Jewelry
Pre-Columbian jewelry
The history of Mexican jewelry begins with Indian tribes that lived in Central and South America prior to European settlement. These tribes, the Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Maya and Aztec, were known for adorning their bodies richly with paint, tattoos, jewelry and feathers. Archaeological evidence shows that the Aztecs wore jewelry of finely carved jade. Various jewelry was found in graves of the Mixtec tribe, including gold pendants, turquoise, quartz ear spools, and pieces with animal motifs. The Maya preferred earplugs, pendants and bracelets made of jade. Jewelry probably had some religious function, and was used in many burial rites.
Early gold jewelry
Gold was abundant in present-day Mexico and throughout South America, which lured many Spanish explorers to the region, and many tribes made jewelry out of gold before Spanish occupation. Metalworking began in the Andes Mountains and spread north to Mexico. Archaeologists have found many gold pieces with intricate designs and religious themes. Gold jewelry with mosaic inlays featuring turquoise originated in Peru before 700 A.D., and were common in Mexico by the 14th century.
European influence
Spanish colonization of Mexico began in 1532, and Spanish artisans taught Native Mexicans to work
gold and silver throughout the 16th century. Thereafter, Mexican jewelry featured combinations of the bold, dramatic Spanish style and colorful decorations of natives. Examples of this are found in heavy silver pieces with green and black stones, decorated with silver domes or balls.
gold and silver throughout the 16th century. Thereafter, Mexican jewelry featured combinations of the bold, dramatic Spanish style and colorful decorations of natives. Examples of this are found in heavy silver pieces with green and black stones, decorated with silver domes or balls.
20th century jewelry
Two Americans were at the forefront of a new direction in Mexican jewelry design centered on silverwork. Fred Davis, a medical student from Chicago, moved to Mexico City in 1910 and became a silversmith and jewelry designer. He opened a shop in Mexico City in the 1920s, and employed many Mexican silversmiths. His jewelry was wildly popular with tourists. Soon, shops cropped up all around Mexico featuring similar designs.
from Chicago, moved to Mexico City in 1910 and became a silversmith and jewelry designer. He opened a shop in Mexico City in the 1920s, and employed many Mexican silversmiths. His jewelry was wildly popular with tourists. Soon, shops cropped up all around Mexico featuring similar designs.
Taxco silver
Another American, William Spratling, an architect and professor from New Orleans, came to Mexico in 1927 and began a rebirth of popularity for silver jewelry in the town of Taxco, Mexico. The silver mines near Taxco were controlled by the Spanish for centuries. Mexicans mined the silver, but it was exported to Spain and converted into jewelry, tableware and other items.
After Mexican independence, the mines remained largely unworked, but Spratling found ways to employ the mines for the benefit of the people of Taxco instead of exporting the silver to another country. He designed jewelry and other silver items inspired by pre-Columbian artifacts he had studied, and employed Mexican silversmiths to create them. His jewelry was so popular that it often sold out as quickly as it was made, and he had employed over 100 Mexican designers and silversmiths by 1940.
Taxco is still a popular tourism spot for jewelry buyers today, with over 1,000 silver stores. In the mid-20th century, jewelry collectors flocked to Taxco to purchase the famous designs, and soon, American department stores, such as Montgomery Ward, featured silver jewelry and tableware from Taxco designers.
After Mexican independence, the mines remained largely unworked, but Spratling found ways to employ the mines for the benefit of the people of Taxco instead of exporting the silver to another country. He designed jewelry and other silver items inspired by pre-Columbian artifacts he had studied, and employed Mexican silversmiths to create them. His jewelry was so popular that it often sold out as quickly as it was made, and he had employed over 100 Mexican designers and silversmiths by 1940.
Taxco is still a popular tourism spot for jewelry buyers today, with over 1,000 silver stores. In the mid-20th century, jewelry collectors flocked to Taxco to purchase the famous designs, and soon, American department stores, such as Montgomery Ward, featured silver jewelry and tableware from Taxco designers.
Amanda Hermes has been a freelance writer since 2009. She writes about children's health, green living and healthy eating for various websites. She has also been published on EdutainingKids.com, Parents Tips Blog and Weekly Woof Blog and she has worked as a ghostwriter for parenting articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Texas.
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