IT IS WORTH LEARNING AND READING ABOUT HECTOR AGUILAR & THE IMPORTANT ROLE HE PLAYED DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE MEXICAN SILVER RENAISSANCE DAYS!

You might say that it was William Spratling who was the central figure instrumental in helping to give birth to the silver movement in Taxco during the height of the Mexican Silver Renaissance.

Hector Aguilar, who had worked as a tourist guide before meeting the legendary Spratling, was one of many artists who got his start by joining Spratling’s operation in 1937 as manager of the Las Delicias silver workshop. Two years later he left to form his own Taller Borda workshop. Several talented silversmiths followed him, including Pedro and Juan Castillo, Salvador Garcia, and another Pedro Castillo. Pedro Castillo worked at the Taller Borda for nine years, eventually rising to the position of workshop manager.(https://www.platadesantafejewelry.com/bracelets-4/circa-1940s-taxco-artisan-pedro-castillo-very-well-designed-pre-eagle-pre-1948-all-sterling-link-braceletearring-set

Hector Aguilar was the principal designer for the jewelry he signed, but much of his workshop’s output consisted of elaborate floral pieces created by Valentín Vidaurreta, who collaborated closely with Aguilar from 1941 to 1955. After Hector and his wife restored the Borda Palace in Taxco, it became the primary location for every aspect of his silver business — housing the silver, tin, and copper workshops, the carpentry shop, and the retail store.

His jewelry designs were inspired primarily by Aztec and Mixtec architecture and art. Ancient motifs were carefully stylized and often repeated, producing striking yet simple compositions. The lush tropical flowers that grew around Taxco also provided rich design sources, and those blossoms were painstakingly rendered in silver. Each piece produced in the workshop received a name, reflecting the thoughtful creativity behind the work. Aguilar gained a reputation for technically brilliant, dramatic jewelry and favored working in 940 silver, a higher-purity alloy closer to fine silver (.999) than sterling; its greater purity and warmer patina allow it to age more gracefully than standard 925 sterling.

Hector played a major role at the height of the Mexican Silver Renaissance during the early Taxco era and helped shape what is now considered some of the most sought-after jewelry from that influential period. His work remains HIGHLY collectible and continues to be prized by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

THE EARRINGS:

These are designed in a signature 1940’s style with the focus being on what Taxco artisans were producing in this time period.

Made in a classic vintage screw back style earring, they are a simple, understated everyday earring that can be worn day or night.

These earrings pre-date & lack the "Eagle" stamp that was put on pieces after the year 1948 for taxation on every piece being sold in & out of Mexico.

Hector mainly worked in 940 silver, but being there is no metal purity stamp on the earrings, I am not sure. I only have on hand the acid to test sterling (not various silver purities) & after testing, it did come up to be at least that, but anything greater than sterling unfortunately I cannot say.

CONVERTING FROM SCREW BACK TO POSTS:

I want to mention that because these ae made of plain sterling that have no stones to be removed, they can be easily converted to a post earring if you don’t do screw backs by any reputable jeweler. (This is a service I do not provide)

If you convert them, I would have them give you back the screw back portion, since that is what has Hector’s Hallmark.

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ARTIST: HECTOR AGUILAR

CIRCA MADE: EARLY TO MID-1940’S

MADE IN: TAXCO,MEXICO

METAL: TESTED TO BE AT LEAST STERLING

METAL FINISH: PATINATED FROM TIME

COMBINED WEIGHT: 13.9 GRAMS

MEASUREMENTS: 7/8" X 7/8"

CONDITION: USED- WELL TAKEN CARE OF FOR BEING 80+ YEARS OLD

HALLMARK: CONJOINED ‘HA’ ON ONE EARRING-TAXCO ON THE OTHER EARRING

COME BOXED.

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PLEASE NOTE:

o give you close up photos, pictures tend to make the item look GIGANTIC & everything is more magnified than in actuality. So to get an accurate idea of how big these are, what you can o is pull out a tape measure & compare to my given measurements above.