Silversmith William Spratling was born in New York, on September 22, 1900. He initially studied architecture and taught in that field before becoming a silver designer. He lectured at the National University of Mexico summer school. He eventually met and helped promote Diego Rivera, leading him to buy a home in Taxco in 1928, where he set up a silver workshop with him being the primary designer. Although Taxco had been mining silver for over 400 years, Spratling believed it was possible for the industry to support and benefit many more of its people. He was fascinated with Pre-Columbian and Mesoamerican art and drew much of his inspiration from these motifs. He accumulated a large collection of artifacts and figurines. Even though he was American, Spratling became known as the "Father of Mexican Silver".
He established "Las Delicias" what would become a large workshop employing over 500 people for a time but after going wholesale (Montgomery Ward, Neiman Marcus, etc.) and in a partnership that soured, Spratling's company went bankrupt. He continued to create his unique designs and even worked for a period in Alaska. In 1952, he re-established a small studio in Taxco. His work transformed over time from "sinuous lines" with sharp contrasts of deeply carved shadowed areas to more refined, linear work. He believed silver work should be mystic, visionary.
In addition to his silver work, Spratling also drew caricatures and illustrated books. In 1932, after 4 years working on it, his book about the mountain town Taxco, "Little Mexico" was published.
Unfortunately Spratling met an untimely death in an auto accident at age 66. A friend said of him, "He believed in humanity. He was an ardent American but had a great love for the Mexican people."
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