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An owl with eyes of what appears to be gray opalescent material, this brooch was designed by Spratling and produced by the American manufacturer Silson in silver plate rather than made in his Taxco taller. Silson's patent for the brooch is dated December 3, 1940, anchoring it to the licensing arrangement that carried Spratling motifs into plate for the United States market.
The owl was a popular motif in that collaboration; Silson also produced an owl bracelet from a Spratling design. Working in silver plate rather than the workshop's solid silver put these pieces at a lower price point and a far wider distribution.
Silson pins after Spratling designs form a distinct, documented corner of his output, valued for the patent record as much as for the object.
Museum of Mexican Silver. “Silson Owl Brooch.” Catalog no. MoMS-000941. https://museumofmexicansilver.com/pieces/spratling-941
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William Spratling
Obsidian Brooch of a Guitar
Silver
