About Taxco

Taxco is one of the oldest mining sites in the Americas.  The native Indians originally called it Tlacho and the Aztecs made the locals pay tribute to them with gold bars.   Hernan Cortes, and the conquistadors arrived in 1521, conquered the Aztecs, and staked his mining claim in Taxco. By the end of the century, silver from Taxco had spread across Europe, and became Spain’s primary source in the New World of precious metals. 

In 1716 Don Jose de la Borda (a Spaniard of French descent) struck a fortune in Taxco and in gratitude built the basic infrastructure of the city – schools,roads, houses, and the beautiful Santa Prisca Cathedral, an ornate cathedral with lots of gold trim in the Spanish Baroque style (Don Jose’s son served as a priest in this church).  Don Jose is still considered the “father” of Taxco, although he eventually left the area when he became over-extended, and left his mines unworked. Thereafter more than a dozen other beautiful churches were built in this small by other successful miners. Between the 1600′s and the 1800′s Boliva, Peru and Mexico produced about 85% of the worlds silver production. During Mexico’s 19th century war for Independence the Spanish barons destroyed their mines rather than lose them to the revolutionaries, and the art of silver work died out in Taxco for quite some time.

In the late 1920′s the highway from Mexico City finally reached Taxco.  William Spratling, a U.S. citizen and associate architecture professor from Tulane University arrived in Taxco in 1926 to study and write about Mexico and its culture. He was welcomed into the influential artistic circles of Mexico. The commented to Mr.Spratling that Taxco had been the site of silver mines for centuries, but had never been considered a location where jewelry and objects of silver were designed and made. This seemingly insignificant comment changed the course of Taxco’s history.  Mr. Spratling discovered and encouraged the talent in the locals and brought in a highly regarded goldsmith to teach the art of working precious metal. Using his own designs he created an apprentice system of young silversmiths with artistic talent and gave them the opportunity to develop their skill.

The great beauty and craftsmanship coming out of Taxco earned worldwide recognition and fame once again for Mexico. Over time many of these artisans opened workshops and stores of their own- all encouraged by his unwavering support. Many of these craftsmen became world renowned as silversmiths: Hector Aguilar, Antonio Pineda, Sigi Pineda, the Castillos, Ledesma, and Chino Ruiz produced some of the most highly regarded, collectable pieces of art, vases, serving sets and jewelry. Their work continues to inspire the next generation of silversmiths and artisans who now number in the hundreds.The city of Taxco (population of 700,000) is located in the hills between Acapulco and Cuernavaca, and is about 100 miles south of Mexico City.