The Aztecs likely pioneered silver mining in the Sierra Madre mountains. Following the fall of the Aztec Empire in 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes staked a silver mining claim in Taxco or Tlachco, southwest of Mexico City. Spain’s first silver mine in North America began in 1531. The Western Hemisphere’s first mint may have produced silver coins as early as 1536 in Mexico City.
As a prosperous mining area, Taxco became Spain’s principal source of precious metals. In the late 1540s, a huge silver deposit in Zacatecas led to the production of one-third of Mexico’s silver and one-fifth of the world’s silver supply by the early 1600s. Silver helped fuel the growth of the Spanish empire.
After the Taxco mines emptied, another silver boom followed in the 18th century when Spanish miner Don Jose de la Borda investigated a rich silver vein. In return for his prosperity, de la Borda left a lasting legacy by constructing homes, schools and roads. His most prominent legacy is likely the Santa Prisca Cathedral built in the Spanish Baroque style. Silver produced from 1748 to 1757 may have covered the church’s construction costs. Architecture in Mexico often shared a correlation with the prosperity of the silver trade.
During the Mexican War of Independence, 1810 to 1821, Spanish barons destroyed the silver mines to avoid losing them to the revolutionaries. In Taxco, the art and craft of silversmithing declined.
In 1929, an American associate professor of architecture at Tulane University, William Spratling, helped transform Taxco into a city renowned for silver jewelry design. Spratling created an apprenticeship program that trained young silversmiths in the craft of jewelry design at one workshop. As “The Father of Mexican Silver,” Spratling and his ideas inspired 300 silver workshops in modern Taxco where silver jewelry grew as a Mexican art form. According to a 1941 "Time" magazine article, William Spratling produced $381,000 in business that represented 60 percent of Taxco’s income.
A revival in archaeological research in Mexico paralleled the growth of contemporary silver jewelry. Ancient designs became part of contemporary jewelry design. Fred Davis, also an American, designed and produced his own jewelry, flatware and other silverwork. Davis encouraged silversmiths of Mexico City to create pieces for the Sanborn department store where he managed the antiques and fine crafts department from the 1930s to 1950s. Davis’ style also influenced Mexican silversmiths.
Since the mid-1960s, historic silver districts have yielded new ore zones. With more updated geochemical and geophysical techniques, more extensive zones of the Mexican Silver Belt can be researched. Profitable mining companies use underground mining techniques.
From 1990 to 1992, Mexico overhauled its mining law structure to attract foreign mining investors. Government mining holdings underwent privatization.
Inaugurated in 1973, Taxco’s National Silver Fair or Feria Nacional de la Plata brings together celebrated artists, craftsmen and silversmiths to exhibit their work and vie for a National Silversmith Award. Festivities include the performing arts at Plaza Borda.
