DECEMBER 2004
Conference Center, Building A
Taxco is a mountainside town between Acapulco and Mexico
City. More than 6,000 feet above sea level, its cobblestone
streets are more vertical than horizontal. It is a beautiful,
red-tiled roof city where historic architectural integrity,
dating back to its founding in 1522 by Cortes, is preserved
by law. But there is something else unusual about the place.
This small town of 50,000 people has more than 500 silver
shops and an untold number of artists and silversmiths.
“I only sell sterling silver,” Victoria Dunham said.
She is the proprietor of Hi Ho Silver, San Francisco, who
returns frequently to Fort Mason Center to show the new work
she brings back from Taxco. “I love the white metal.
I love it because it is affordable. I also love it because
you can be understated and elegant or you can be bold and
dramatic without being ostentatious. Big in silver is wonderful,
big in gold, is, well, gaudy,” she added.
Dunham began taking trips to Taxco in 1992, taking along her
taste, passion for silver, and a desire to discover jewelry
that would “turn the head.” She and her former business
partner found it and soon began buying and bringing home treasures
that she would resell.
“After each trip to Taxco,” she said, “we invited
everyone we knew, made large vats of margaritas, and had a
sale on our respective dining room tables.”
Shortly thereafter, they started to do shows at friends’
houses. It wasn’t long before they outgrew the home show
concept. They wanted a venue, but they didn’t want a
shop.
“That’s when we discovered Fort Mason Center. As
an experiment, we booked a room one Saturday in April in the
smallest, least expensive, and most difficult to find rental
room. Much to our surprise, all of these people showed up
with hoes and rakes in their hands. We happened to book a
day when there was a garden show at the Festival Pavilion.
We discovered that some people who garden also love silver
jewelry. More importantly, we discovered Fort Mason –
the perfect part-time venue.”
Though location, location, location may be the mantra of many
successful businesses, Hi Ho Silver has also done other things
right.
“Our success as a company,” Dunham said, “
has been based on three simple things: We do all the buying
ourselves, so no middleman; we work directly with the silversmiths
and designers, guaranteeing unique designs and high-quality
work; and we do not maintain a shop, reducing overhead.”
The fact is that Dunham works with 50 or so designers, craftspeople,
and silversmiths, some of them since she first visited a dozen
years ago.
“My intent is simple,” Dunham said. “I want
to provide my clients with the best quality, most interesting
silver jewelry being made in Mexico. I offer the best traditional
designs, working with some of the oldest and most talented
silversmiths in Taxco. I also have the pleasure of working
with young designers. Quality is the key.”
Taxco has become her second home, and she said it is “a
joy to work with so many talented people.”
Hi Ho Silver’s next weekend jewelry sale at Fort Mason
Center is Friday, December 3 in the Center’s Marina Room
– just in time for the holidays. Check the December
3 calendar listing and visit www.hihosilver.com
for more information.
– Ronald Tierney
Image: Victoria Dunham, Photo Lee Kobus
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