los castillo fake?

[dwwann]

Hi, this is my first post and my first attempt at posting an image...I hope it works. Anyways, I've been researching on Los Castillo Taxco silver and I think I have an authentic piece. Only I have yet to find anything that resembles what I have. I hope my images will show the marks well enough that someone might be able to help me determine if I have the real thing or not. Ok, I just preveiwed and the pics are not showing what I need them to show. I'm new at this so I don't know if I can even make them any better. On the back, across the top, it says LOSCASTILLO 338 TAXCO.MEX and then has an eagle stamped. Does any of this sound like the real thing? thank you for any help.

[admin]

There is no one here to authenticate or debunk your piece, that is not the purpose of this forum. That said, the marks seem perfectly reasonable for a Los Castillo piece. I think the Eagle number should be 11.
Regards, Tom

[dwwann]

Thank you, Tom, I appreciate that you cannot authenticate my piece and at the same time, grateful for your response. Can you tell me what the numbers 338 mean? Would that be like a patend? The number in the eagle is either a 14 or 15, hard to make out. I'm wondering if there is a name for the face or the mask.
Also, I'd like to thank those who take the time to maintain this forum. As I'm sure a great deal of information is shared and appreciated. I know I will continue to use the forum.
Thanks again, Susan

[dwwann]

I think I just figured out how to post a link so you can see the marks better.
http://sv1.letmehost.com/sv1/20/watches_015_000.jpg

[admin]

Eagle 15 would be right, 338 is the design number. The mask is probably taken from pre-Columbian decorations. Ancient Middle American motifs are not a strong point and it looks vaguely oriental to me, so is I should add that there is a possibility that it is an older design by Margot - one of her Asian fantasy pieces.
Regards, Tom

[dwwann]

Mucho Gracias, Tom. If it wasn't marked, as such, I might even think it came from New Orleans! Going on it's looks, kinda Mardi Gras.
Susan