William Spratling Museum facts for kids
| Museo Guillermo Spratling | |
Outside view of the museum
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico |
|---|---|
The William Spratling Museum (also known as Museo Guillermo Spratling in Spanish) is a fascinating museum. It is located in Taxco, a beautiful and historic town in Guerrero, Mexico. This museum is special because it holds a large collection of ancient artifacts. These pieces once belonged to William Spratling himself. He was a very important person who helped make Taxco famous for its silver designs.
Contents
Who Was William Spratling?
William Spratling was an American artist, designer, and businessman. He moved to Taxco in the 1920s. He fell in love with the town and its history. Spratling is often called the "Father of Mexican Silver." This is because he helped bring back the art of silver making in Taxco. He opened workshops and taught many local people how to create beautiful silver jewelry and objects. His work helped Taxco become a world-famous center for silver.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum has two main parts. One part shows ancient artifacts. The other part focuses on William Spratling's amazing silver designs.
Ancient Artifacts Collection
The museum displays 293 archeological pieces. These items were part of William Spratling's own collection. They come from different parts of Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica was a large region where many ancient civilizations lived.
- Bone and Shell Pieces: You can see tools and decorations made from bone and shells.
- Semi-Precious Stones: There are objects crafted from beautiful stones like jade.
- Jars and Figurines: The collection includes ancient pottery and small statues.
Special Pieces to See
Some of the most amazing items are:
- A skull covered in bright green jade. This shows the skill of ancient artists.
- A large stone tablet called a stele. These steles often told stories or recorded important events.
The Counterfeit Collection
The museum also has a unique collection of "counterfeit" artifacts. These are objects that look ancient but were actually made more recently. Spratling collected these to help people learn how to tell the difference between real and fake ancient art. It's like a puzzle to figure out which ones are truly old!
Spratling's Silverwork and Workshops
Another important part of the museum is about silver. This section shows the beautiful silver designs that William Spratling created. It also tells the story of the workshops he started in Taxco. These workshops helped many local people learn the craft of silversmithing. Spratling's designs often mixed modern styles with traditional Mexican art. He even opened another workshop in a nearby place called Taxco el Viejo. His legacy continues to influence silver artists today.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Guillermo Spratling para niños
