Skip to main content
Items Similar to Emilia Castillo Silver Plate Armadillo Butter Dish with Malachite, Taxco Mexico
Vintage Italian Snail Butter Dish, Silver-Plated, 1970s
Vintage Italian Snail Butter Dish, Silver-Plated, 1970s
Armadillo Sterling Silver Lighter
Armadillo Sterling Silver Lighter
Vintage Silver Plate Snail Salt Dish Spice Dish with Glass Inlay
Vintage Silver Plate Snail Salt Dish Spice Dish with Glass Inlay
Silverplate Butter Dish With Lizard & Turquoise Inlay by Emilia Castillo, Mexico
Silverplate Butter Dish With Lizard & Turquoise Inlay by Emilia Castillo, Mexico
Antique English Edwardian Small Silver Plated Revolving Lid Butter Dish Server
Antique English Edwardian Small Silver Plated Revolving Lid Butter Dish Server
Large Silver-Plated Bowl With Frogs Handles by Emilia Castillo, Mexico 21st Cent
Large Silver-Plated Bowl With Frogs Handles by Emilia Castillo, Mexico 21st Cent
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller.

Emilia Castillo Silver Plate Armadillo Butter Dish with Malachite, Taxco Mexico

$4,650
£3,545.36
€4,250.61
CA$6,689.79
A$6,880.08
CHF 3,891.90
MX$88,104.83
NOK 44,790.52
SEK 46,831.96
DKK 31,774.64

About the Item

An exceptional and highly sculptural vintage covered butter dish by renowned Mexican designer and silversmith Emilia Castillo, conceived in the whimsical form of an armadillo and handcrafted in Taxco, Mexico. Both functional tableware and a collectible decorative object, the piece captures Castillo’s distinctive ability to transform imagery from the natural world into sophisticated objects for the home. The armadillo is meticulously constructed in solid brass with a silver-plated finish, its articulated shell rendered through deeply textured, overlapping bands that create remarkable dimension and reflectivity. The animal’s head, ears, feet, and tail are modeled with equally elaborate chased and repoussé-like surface detailing. The entire sculptural cover lifts from an elegant oval silver-plated serving dish, allowing the piece to function as a covered butter dish, serving piece, or purely decorative tabletop sculpture. A particularly beautiful detail is the dragonfly (libélula) perched on the armadillo’s back. Its wings are accented with rich green natural malachite stone inlay, introducing the combination of precious and semiprecious materials for which Emilia Castillo's work is especially admired. The underside retains the maker's hallmark reading “Emilia Castillo, Mexico M.R., Plateado,” along with its model designation. Emilia Castillo occupies an important position within the history of 20th-century Mexican silver and Taxco design. Born into one of Mexico's most significant silversmithing families, she is the daughter of Antonio Castillo, founder of the celebrated Los Castillo workshop. Antonio Castillo had trained with William Spratling, the influential designer credited with helping revive Taxco's modern silver industry. Emilia grew up surrounded by the family's workshops and later developed an independent design career characterized by imaginative animal forms, botanical motifs, silver, porcelain and colorful semiprecious stones. Her work eventually achieved an international audience, including a long association with Neiman Marcus beginning in the 1990s, while important commissions further established her reputation beyond Mexico. Today her designs form part of the continuing multigenerational Castillo tradition: Emilia's daughter Cristina Romo also became a designer and silversmith, extending the family's Taxco metalworking heritage into another generation. For interior designers, architects and collectors, this armadillo is particularly compelling because it functions equally well as Mexican Modernist decorative art, luxury tableware, a cabinet-of-curiosities object, or a sculptural centerpiece. Its polished silver surface and vivid malachite detail would provide an unexpected focal point in a contemporary dining room, cocktail setting, library, bar, or collected interior. Condition: Good vintage condition with light wear consistent with age and use. We can detect no significant loss to the silver-plated finish. Please refer to the photographs for additional condition details. Measurements: Approximately 8 in. W × 5.25 in. D × 3 in. H Materials: Silver-plated solid brass, malachite Designer/Maker: Emilia Castillo Origin: Taxco, Mexico Type: Covered butter dish / serving dish / decorative sculpture Motif: Armadillo and dragonfly
  • Creator:
    Emilia Castillo (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 3 in (7.62 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 5.25 in (13.34 cm)
  • Style:
    Modern (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Acacia,Brass,Malachite,Silver,Silver Plate,Hand-Crafted
  • Place of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Period:
    1980-1989
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1980's
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Good vintage condition with light wear consistent with age and use. We can detect no significant loss to the silver-plated finish. Please refer to the photographs for additional condition details.
  • Seller Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU881751105072

More From This Seller

View All
Emilia Castillo Large Silver Plated Malachite Lizard Serving Tray, Mexico 1980s

Emilia Castillo Large Silver Plated Malachite Lizard Serving Tray, Mexico 1980s

Emilia Castillo Large Silver Plated Malachite Lizard Serving Tray, Mexico 1980s

By Emilia Castillo

Located in Los Angeles, CA

An exceptional oversized silver-plated brass serving tray by celebrated Mexican artist Emilia Castillo, handcrafted in Taxco, Mexico, during the 1980s. Measuring an impressive 28 in...

Category

Vintage 1980s Mexican Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Malachite, Silver Plate, Brass

Los Castillo Taxco Silver Plate & Malachite Lidded Bowl, Mexican Modernism

Los Castillo Taxco Silver Plate & Malachite Lidded Bowl, Mexican Modernism

Los Castillo Taxco Silver Plate & Malachite Lidded Bowl, Mexican Modernism

By Emilia Castillo, Los Castillo

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A striking vintage Los Castillo lidded bowl from Taxco, Mexico, combining sculptural Mexican metalwork with richly colored natural malachite stone inlay. Crafted from solid copper wi...

Category

Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Malachite, Silver, Silver Plate, Copper

Los Castillo Taxco Silver Plate & Malachite Lidded Bowl, Mexico 1960s

Los Castillo Taxco Silver Plate & Malachite Lidded Bowl, Mexico 1960s

Los Castillo Taxco Silver Plate & Malachite Lidded Bowl, Mexico 1960s

By Los Castillo, Emilia Castillo

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Exceptional 1960s Mexican Modernist lidded bowl by Los Castillo, handcrafted in Taxco, Mexico. This sculptural vessel combines the workshop’s celebrated metalworking tradition with t...

Category

Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls

Materials

Malachite, Silver, Silver Plate, Copper

Emilia Castillo Silver-Plated Frog & Malachite Catchall, Taxco 1980s

Emilia Castillo Silver-Plated Frog & Malachite Catchall, Taxco 1980s

Emilia Castillo Silver-Plated Frog & Malachite Catchall, Taxco 1980s

By Emilia Castillo

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Elegant silver-plated catchall or bottle coaster designed and handcrafted by Emilia Castillo in Taxco, Mexico, circa 1980s. The sculptural piece features a frog resting on a malachit...

Category

Vintage 1980s Mexican Organic Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Malachite, Silver Plate, Brass

Whimsical Silver-Plate & Malachite Serving Tray by Emilia Castillo, Mexican Art

Whimsical Silver-Plate & Malachite Serving Tray by Emilia Castillo, Mexican Art

Whimsical Silver-Plate & Malachite Serving Tray by Emilia Castillo, Mexican Art

By Emilia Castillo

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A playful and sculptural serving tray by celebrated Taxco designer Emilia Castillo, where refined craftsmanship meets a touch of whimsy. Handcrafted in Mexico from hammered brass wi...

Category

Vintage 1980s Mexican Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Malachite, Silver, Silver Plate, Brass

You May Also Like

Vintage Italian Snail Butter Dish, Silver-Plated, 1970s

Vintage Italian Snail Butter Dish, Silver-Plated, 1970s

Vintage Italian Snail Butter Dish, Silver-Plated, 1970s

Located in BARCELONA, ES

Beautiful Italian silver-plated snail butter dish, 1970s. Featuring a whimsical snail-shaped body with textured shell lid in polished silver-plate, opening to reveal a clear insert b...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Silver Plate Snail Salt Dish Spice Dish with Glass Inlay

Vintage Silver Plate Snail Salt Dish Spice Dish with Glass Inlay

Vintage Silver Plate Snail Salt Dish Spice Dish with Glass Inlay

Located in Miami, FL

A vintage salt or spice dish designed as a snail with a glass tray inside. Label silver plated on the bottom. Makes the perfect timeless gift! A-816-335

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tableware

Materials

Silver Plate

Aluminium Hedgehog Ashtray, greece, circa Around 1960s

Aluminium Hedgehog Ashtray, greece, circa Around 1960s

Aluminium Hedgehog Ashtray, greece, circa Around 1960s

Located in Wien, Au

Hedgehog Ashtray, greece, circa Around 1950s Aluminium Original condition

Category

Vintage 1950s Greek Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays

Materials

Aluminum

Antique Sterling Silver Collectible Novelty Pincushion Modelled As A Hedgehog

Antique Sterling Silver Collectible Novelty Pincushion Modelled As A Hedgehog

Antique Sterling Silver Collectible Novelty Pincushion Modelled As A Hedgehog

By Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd.

Located in London, London

Hallmarked in London in 1902 by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. This adorable Antique, Edwardian, Sterling Silver Hedgehog Pincushion is rare and collectible, with the silver overlayin...

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Sterling Silver

Materials

Sterling Silver

Franco Lapini Italian Repousse Pig Serving platter and top with glass eyes

Franco Lapini Italian Repousse Pig Serving platter and top with glass eyes

Franco Lapini Italian Repousse Pig Serving platter and top with glass eyes

By Franco Lapini

Located in Buchanan, MI

Franco Lapini Italian Repousse Pig Serving platter and top with glass eyes. Franco Lapini was an Italian silversmith based in Firenze since 1963. Franco Lapini, the creator, was tra...

Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware

Materials

Metal

1980s Emilia Castillo Silver-Plated Sugar Bowl with Malachite Frog and Spoon

1980s Emilia Castillo Silver-Plated Sugar Bowl with Malachite Frog and Spoon

1980s Emilia Castillo Silver-Plated Sugar Bowl with Malachite Frog and Spoon

Located in Southampton, NJ

Whimsical silver-plated sugar bowl by Mexican designer Emilia Castillo, circa 1980s. The piece depicts a playful natural scene, with a sculptural frog creeping around the side of the...

Category

Vintage 1980s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Tea Sets

Materials

Malachite, Silver Plate