Martha Massé

Martha Massé, an art enthusiast since she was a child, always found joy in manual creation, especially in drawing. This creativity led her to take an unexpected path towards Visual Arts, thus becoming part of the first generation of the career in Taxco de Alarcón, Guerrero.

In 2011, Martha began her academic journey, immersing herself in the rich artistic tradition of the silver city. It was during her time in the career that she was introduced to small jewelry classes, initially basic but which sparked her interest and creativity.

Taxco, with its rooted history in goldsmithing, became the perfect backdrop for Martha. Strolling through the silversmith shops, exploring the Saturday market in search of small treasures for her family, all contributed to her immersion in the world of jewelry.

Martha decided to expand her knowledge by participating in a diploma course in design in silverware and utilitarian object jewelry, where she met her teacher Miguel Angel Ortiz. This step not only strengthened her skills, but also took her to a new level of collaboration. Invited to Miguel’s workshop, Martha found a space where her drawing skills and her passion for jewelry converged harmoniously.

Martha Massé predominantly uses 950 silver in the creation of her jewelry, highlighting her preference for it, due to its durability. Although she occasionally incorporates 925 silver for commercial reasons.

Martha experiments with diverse materials, from stones such as howlite and obsidian to resin, papel amate (an organic paper) and techniques such as married metals, which involve the union of silver, copper and brass. The artist has also explored the art of mosaic, always seeking harmony between silver and other elements to create unique and expressive pieces.

As for the quality of the metal, Martha Massé has the backing of the Silver Regulatory Council in the city. Both she and her teacher Miguel have affiliated with this council, committing to undergo annual revisions to evaluate the composition of the metal used in their creations.

In the creative process, Martha uses acids such as nitric and sulfuric, with extreme caution. These acids, essential for welding and other techniques, require careful management at the end of their useful life. Instead of dumping the acids directly, a recycling system is implemented.

After neutralizing these acidic substances, a process is initiated to recover the small amount of silver present in them. In addition, during polishing, a residue known as ​“lint” is generated. Instead of discarding it, this material is carefully stored for later use, thus respecting every small amount of silver. Over time, the neutralized acids accumulate and, upon completion of the process, the small amount remaining is given to specialists who seek to further neutralize these acids, thus contributing to a circular and sustainable approach to materials handling.

Martha Massé, brings her jewelry to life in the workshop of her teacher Miguel Angel Ortiz in Taxco, Mexico. She fuses her love of drawing with the craftsmanship of jewelry, creating unique pieces.

Her connection to Taxco’s rich silversmithing tradition is reflected in each design. Local production is key for Martha, who sources silver and stones from local lapidaries. Resins and palms also add to her work, all converging in Taxco, where silver flows as the heart of the jewelry tradition.

Martha Massé does not use materials of animal origin in her jewelry creations.

Among the materials she uses are silver 950, howlite and obsidian as main stones. This choice of materials reflects Martha’s dedication to an animal-friendly approach to her artistic practice.

Martha Massé’s handmade jewelry is a commitment to quality and authenticity in each creation. Launching 2 or 3 small collections a year, Martha deeply values the creative process from the drawing stage.

The time spent sketching, creating mock-ups and planning becomes the basis for careful production, thus ensuring that each piece of jewelry is unique and captures the essence of slow craftsmanship, where attention to detail and dedication are paramount values.

It is often difficult to find out where silver and stones come from, yet Martha makes efforts to know the quality of her materials.

To this end, she has become affiliated with the Silver Regulatory Council. This local entity issues documents and carries out annual reviews to evaluate the amount of silver and alloys present, thus guaranteeing the quality and authenticity of each piece.

In the case of the stones, transparency encounters obstacles due to the high costs associated with obtaining certifications for local artisans in Taxco. However, Martha relies on her insider knowledge and trusted relationships with local suppliers to ensure the authenticity of stones such as amethysts, Mexican opals and chrysocolla.