The Potosí Silversmithing School (Escuela Municipal de Platería) is a civic institution devoted to reviving the silver craft traditions that made the city famous in the colonial period. At its peak, Potosí had hundreds of silversmiths producing pieces that circulated through the entire Spanish colonial world — the quality of Potosí silver work was internationally recognised, and pieces from local workshops appear in European church treasuries today.
The school offers courses in traditional silversmithing techniques and maintains a small workshop where visitors can observe students at work. It also sells finished pieces made by students and graduates, making it a place to buy handmade silverwork with genuine local provenance. The quality varies with the student, but the best pieces are carefully made and reasonably priced compared to tourist shops. The school is located a short walk from the Casa de la Moneda — fitting, since both deal in the same material.