Antonio Pineda 1950's Vintage 970 Silver Trinity Spiral Modernist Brooch

Antonio Pineda

In 1919, in the silver-rich town of Taxco, Mexico, Antonio Pineda was born. Taxco was already known as the “silver city,” its narrow streets filled with the sound of hammers and the glow of molten metal. For a child growing up there, silver was not just a trade but part of the rhythm of daily life. Antonio’s path into this world began early, guided by the influence of master silversmiths, including William Spratling, who had revitalized the craft in Mexico. Under their instruction, Antonio learned not only how to shape silver but also how to think of design as an art form.

By 1941, he opened his own workshop. It was a place that quickly became known for pushing boundaries. While other silversmiths in Taxco worked within established traditions, Antonio experimented with bold, sculptural lines and modernist forms. His designs moved between tradition and innovation, rooted in Mexican heritage but alive with new ideas.

Antonio excelled in the challenging work of hollowware and tableware. Where others hesitated, he embraced the technical difficulties of larger forms, using them as opportunities to show his precision and creativity. One of his early standout creations was a set of goblets, silver elegantly wrapped around amethyst bases, the purple stone catching light like twilight against the metal. This combination of silver with amethyst or ebony became part of his signature, materials chosen for their contrast and their reflection of Mexico’s landscapes and skies.

The pieces that left his workshop were more than functional objects or adornments. They carried with them a sense of modern Mexico, a dialogue between its cultural roots and the modernist movement spreading across the world. Collectors and museums began to take notice, seeing in Antonio’s work not only beauty but also a story of renewal in design.

Over the decades, his reputation grew beyond Taxco. His jewelry and tableware became synonymous with Mexican modernism, celebrated for their elegance and innovation. Each piece was both an object and a statement, reflecting the vision of an artist who never separated craft from culture.

Antonio Pineda’s legacy lives on in the silver he shaped. His work remains sought after, housed in collections and museums worldwide, remembered as the art of a man who gave new identity to the silver city of Taxco.