Historical and cultural influences in Claudia & Julio's design
Cultural Influences
Since my teenage years, I was captivated by a game that involved searching for treasure, guided by a map made from an oxidized sheet of copper. This object, which evoked the ingenuity of ancient Mexicans in pre-Hispanic times, left an indelible mark on my artistic path. Later, at the beginning of my career, I attended a workshop on materials for creating works with expressive metal design.
Despite formal training, it was a close friend, Alfredo Martínez Garza, who motivated me to continue exploring embossed plates. Thanks to his expertise, I began to experiment, and my first works were acquired by my own family. Themes such as the sun, Christ, and the Last Supper informed my early creations. With time and practice, one of our most notable designs, the sun-cat, was signed with a logo representing our initials: C and J. Thus began our story as a creative duo.
Inspiration and history
The rich tradition of goldsmithing in Mexico was transformed with the arrival of the Spanish. Indigenous peoples used copper and gold to create jewelry and assimilated colonial techniques that elevated the quality of their pieces. Gold and silver mining became a pillar of wealth for Europe, especially thanks to innovations in mineral refining. Despite the restrictions imposed by the Spanish Crown, silversmithing in the New World flourished, achieving international recognition, as exemplified by the Franz Mayer Collection in Mexico City.
Claudia and Julio, in their quest to reinterpret the rich tradition of Mexican silversmithing, have found a source of inspiration in Novo Hispanic silversmithing, bridging the gap between the past and the present, creating works that are, in essence, a tribute to the art and history of Mexico.
"Our admiration for the wonders achieved in our rich history makes us dream and appreciate those designs to reinvent them and offer them again as a jewel that reaffirms our culture and goldsmith quality." C&J
We Design Together
Together, Claudia and I have designed numerous pieces, giving frames a fundamental role from the very beginning. Our first frame design was "Mariposas," designed for round mirrors and picture frames. From that moment on, frames became our specialty. My training as a designer guides me toward contemporary and functional designs, but I also possess an innate talent for fretwork and, in some ways, a natural inclination toward baroque and classical styles, influenced by the richness of our Mexican culture.
Conclusion: Claudia & Julio's Footprint.
Historical influences have been fundamental to our work. The connection between contemporary design and the traditions that precede us is clearly evident in our silver and copper designs. Originality emerges from integrating these influences with a modern approach, offering pieces that pay homage to our cultural heritage while meeting current aesthetic needs.