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loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
A superb Los Castillo Taxco Chato design sterling silver 'onix negro' Mexican modernist pre-Columbian Parrot design bracelet circa 1950s.

#loscastillotaxco #chatocastillodesign #mexicansilver #taxco #onixnegro #preColumbian #parrotdesign #1950s #mexicanmodernism #design
A superb vintage 1950s handmade sterling silver and 'onix negro' (black onyx) Mexican modernist pre Columbian Parrot design bracelet created by Chato Castillo for Los Castillo in Taxco. Entirely handmade hand wrought solid sterling silver with a bezel-set onix negro stone at top into which is inlaid silver wire in a modernist take on an ancient pre-Columbian Parrot Glyph design most likely of Maya or Aztec origin. The Parrot glyph is repeated again at either end of the bracelet at the closure using the silver overlay technique where two layers of silver are laid over each other with the upper layer cut-thru in the design, and the recesses created are then oxidized black to make the design stand out. Parrots and macaws were deeply sacred in Mesoamerica, serving as living symbols of the sun, fire, and divine messengers connecting the earthly and spiritual realms. Because of their vibrant colors and ability to vocalize, parrots were believed to bridge the gap between humans and the gods, carrying prayers up to the sky. Live birds and their feathers were restricted to royalty and priests. Rulers and elites used the feathers to adorn sacred objects, ceremonial capes, and elaborate headdresses to project divine power. Chato Castillo designed this bracelet and most of the 'onix negro' jewelry and objects along with much else, and he invented this unique to Los Castillo metalworking technique that they called 'onix negro' for black onyx combined with shiny silver, a high-contrast combination! The bracelet measures 1-3/8" wide at top, and fits up to a 7.5" wrist (snugly) presently, and could be sized by a professional by adding rings or other spacers at the hinged joints if desired. Weighs a hefty 75.2 grams total. Marked inside as shown, "Los Castillo Taxco" in a circle around the Eagle 15, "Onix Negro", and design number 60. This is only the second example of this design that I've seen in my 45+ year career, so definitely a rare one! Excellent vintage condition.
October 31, 2026 at 3:34 PM
garudeya.bsky.social
Parrot Party T-Shirt
www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/8169...

#CutePets #ParrotLove #BirdParty #PetIllustration #ExoticPet #KawaiiBird #TropicalParrot #PetTee #TshirtDesign #VectorArt #ParrotDesign #AdorablePets #BirdLovers #PetFashion #VectorIllustration
October 13, 2025 at 8:46 AM
loscastillotaxco.bsky.social
Super rare Los Castillo handmade 'Parrot' design 'Pluma Azteca' (Aztec Feathers) tie bar circa 1950.

#loscastillotaxco #metalescasados #metalescastillo #plumaazteca #chatocastillodesign #parrotdesign #tiebar #tieclip #handmade #feathers #mixedmetals #mexicansilver #wearableart #art #taxco #design
A super rare design by Chato Castillo for his family firm, the Plateria Los Castillo in Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico. Chato and his brothers at Los Castillo were greatly inspired by the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica (Mexico). Especially by their arts and architecture, and the culture that these implied. In pre-Columbian cultures, feathers were considered sacred treasures, often more valuable than gold, representing divine power, high social status, and a connection to the spiritual realm. They were crucial in religious rituals, adorned the elite, and symbolized wisdom, strength, and the ability to connect with the heavens. Chato drew from this to create his 'Pluma Azteca' metalworking technique where he encased real feathers within a metal frame to showcase their vivid coloring, and hearkened back to the ancients. In this example, the feathers are used to represent the intense colors of a parrot. The feathers are inlaid into the metal section, that has been riveted rather than soldered to protect the integrity of the feathers, but the feathers in this example are open to the air, not encased in resin like in later examples. The 'beak' and 'eye' of the parrot was made using Chato's 'metales casados' (married metals) technique which he later re-named 'Metales Castillo' for copyright purposes. The married metals technique is basically the joining of different metals (copper, brass, and silver in this instance) without using solder. It is an extremely time consuming technique that requires the exact fitting of the different metal pieces without any open space between them, and was practiced by only the most expert of master silversmiths in Taxco. Measures 2-1/4" across by 1-3/8" wide, and weighs 15.9 grams. Marked "Los Castillo Taxco", "Pluma Azteca", "Hecho en Mexico", and design number "1". Los Castillo often started a new series of design numbers with a new technique used, and this is no doubt the first in the Pluma Azteca series, making it both rare and significant.
April 19, 2026 at 2:56 PM