|
Featured Artisans
Los Castillo
- by Carole A. Berk
The Los Castillo brothers and their descendents established a family
tradition in the field of silversmithing. Don Antonio and his brothers
(Jorge, Miguel, and Justo {Chato}) began their craft under the guidance
of William Spratling. In 1939, they opened their own workshop with Margot
de Taxco (Antonio Castillo's wife) on the Plazuela Bernal. An agreement
was made with Spratling that they would not reproduce Spratling designs
upon creating their own workshop. With this promise, they came to find
their own unique style taking the basic knowledge of Pre-Columbian design
and adding modern finishing. The one thing that makes the craftsmanship
of Los Castillo radically different from their contemporaries is their
ability to explore design philosophies and techniques. This flexibility
is demonstrated by their ambitious experimentation. They created pieces
endowed with movement and depth and this fundamental design philosophy
was maintained throughout all their experimentation. One of their most
aggressive and successful techniques is their "married metals" used
on a pitcher with leaf cover as seen in Mexican Silver on page
93.
Even with their adventures in experimenting, Los Castillo' s basic
formula can be seen in this particular rectangular pin. This pin is
an excellent example of the Los Castillo blending of past with the future.
The pin carries the classic bold lines that delineate the design of
the eye, and shadows are used to create depth and further enhance the
shape of the eye. Using Pre-Columbian techniques (bold lines), Los Castillo
flavors the piece with modernity with their skilled use of stylization.
The small charms found dangling from the bottom of the pin provide a
whimsical touch of movement pulling past and modern elements together.
Movement within the works of Los Castillo make their designs intriguing.
This interlocking fish bracelet not only employs the Los Castillo use
of depth, but also entices its audience with a moving pattern. The curves
of each fish bring movement to the entire bracelet, giving the illusion
of fish gliding through water. The fish are accented with the individual
scales creating the characteristic quality of depth. Movement within
the works of Los Castillo make their designs intriguing. This interlocking
fish bracelet not only employs the Los Castillo use of depth, but also
entices its audience with a moving pattern. The curves of each fish
bring movement to the entire bracelet, giving the illusion of fish gliding
through water. The fish are accented with the individual scales creating
the characteristic quality of depth.
The intricate work of Los Castillo continues in the designs of Mimi
Castillo, daughter of Don Antonio. As she explores pottery, she perpetuates
the use of the family formula of depth and movement and mixing past
with present.
 The
Castillo workshop, more so than any other workshop of the 50s, produced
(and continues to produce) a wide range of designs in jewelry and holloware.
They used not only Pre-Columbian inspirations, but also inspirations
from the American and European modernist movements of the time. A good
example is this brass and wicker tea set with a matching tray. Looking
at it for the first time I thought of the German, Scandanavian and English
designs from the 30s. There is really nothing new under the sun; it
is only one's interpretation that makes it new and fresh.
Los Castillo suite of bracelet, earrings, pin and belt
buckle designed by Chato Castillo in mixed metal and Aztec stone,c.
1955 
|
