Vintage Los Castillo Taxco Metales Casados Mixed Metal Frog Water Pitcher Chato For Sale

Vintage Los Castillo Taxco Metales Casados Mixed Metal Frog Water Pitcher Chato F1Item Specifics

• Brand / Artisan:Los Castillo
• Designer:Jorge "Chato" Castillo(Attributed)
• Origin:Taxco, Mexico
• Era / Style:Mid-Century Modern / 1950s–1960s
• Technique:Handwrought,Metales Casados(Married Metals), Mosaic Inlay
• Primary Material:Hammered Copper
• Accent Materials:Silver, Brass, Carved Stone (Frog figure and body mosaics)
• Hallmarks:"HANDWROUGHT", "METALES CASADOS", Design model "F 1"
• Dimensions:9 ¾" Height x 8" Width x 5 ½" Diameter

Detailed DescriptionOverviewUp for sale is an iconic, highly collectible mid-century Mexican modernist masterpiece: ahandwrought copper pitcher featuring stylized frog accents. Designed and meticulously executed by the legendary workshop ofLos Castillo in Taxco, Mexico, this piece carries the rare stamp"Metales Casados"alongside the design production code"F 1".Craftsmanship & MaterialsThis sculptural water pitcher is expertly hand-hammered from heavy-gauge copper, developing a warm, deep patina over decades. It brilliantly showcasestwo highly sophisticated technical hallmarkspioneered by the workshop:

1. The Carved Frog Figure:Perched gracefully on the leaf-shaped pouring rim is a beautifully carved, stylized frog sculpture boasting a rich green, natural stone texture.
2. "Metales Casados" (Married Metals):The body of the pitcher is inlaid with abstract jumping frogs. Unlike common metal overlays or soldering, "married metals" is an extraordinarily difficult technique where distinct pieces of copper, brass, and silver alloys are fit together seamlessly like a jigsaw puzzle. The design penetrates through the surface metal cleanly without visible seam lines.

SymbolismIn Mesoamerican culture, frogs and toads were deeply revered as spirits of rain, water, and agricultural fertility. This functional art piece seamlessly weaves pre-Columbian folklore with sleek mid-century modernist design.Condition

• Great vintage condition showing authentic surface wear and minor tarnishing consistent with age.
• The carved stone frog and body inlays remain completely intact.
• Beautiful, unpolished original patina that highlights the incredible, hand-wrought texturing. Please refer to all high-resolution photos to review the interior and exterior finish.

About the Artist: Los CastilloFounded in Taxco, Mexico, in 1939 byDon Antonio Castilloand his brothers (Jorge, Miguel, and Justo), theLos Castillo workshoprose to global prominence. The brothers initially trained under William Spratling, the undisputed patriarch of Mexican silver.Antonio's brother,Jorge "Chato" Castillo, was the technical genius behind the workshop's most famous innovations. He pioneeredmetales casados(married metals) in the late 1940s and 1950s. Because this metallurgical puzzle-fitting process requires intense labor, extreme precision, and masterful skill, true mid-centuryMetales Casadoshollowware pieces are exceptionally rare, highly sought after by museums, and prized by worldwide collectors of fine silver and metal art.Keep in mind the shipping price also covers handling fees, packaging materials & time, not just postage.
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