art deco sculpture

Painted by hand in warm, happy colors, this gecko is born of prehistoric cave art. J. Blas sculpts the gently curving silhouette from sheet iron. It depicts Kokopelli, a prehistoric image regarded as a deity who plays a flute. Legends suggest Kokopelli was a Toltec trader. He traveled from central Mexico to the southwestern deserts and mountains of the U.S. where he is featured in rock paintings dating back thousands of years.

Angel Cerón finds inspiration in the art and beliefs of the Olmeca people to replicate the sculpture of a jaguar holding a man standing on his head. "The original sculpture is from the middle pre-classic period of 1200-400 B.C. and was found in San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, Veracruz," explains the master ceramist. "The ancient Olmeca believed they were descendants of the union between a jaguar and a woman. The actual myth seems to have been lost in time, though many of their celebrations and artistry make reference to the jaguar, especially portraying people with feline facial characteristics including fangs. There used to be a considerable jaguar population in the same region where the Olmeca culture developed, so they regarded the feline as having some connection with their origin. They also believed it to represent both the world of th living, and the underworld," continues Cerón, who crafts the sculpture with yellow clay from the state of Oaxaca creating low and high relief accents and gives it an antiqued finish.

Wearing a starfish in her hair, a beautiful mermaid sings of the sea. Mexican artisan J. Blas cuts and shapes the image by hand, adding details in glass mosaic.

Hovering on whirring wings, a whimsical hummingbird seeks out the sweet nectar of flowers. Zeny and Reyna transform found pieces of copal wood into a delightful alebrije painted orange, red, yellow, green, white and black. These fanciful sculptures are a traditional folk art in Oaxaca, once based on twenty totems but today representing all kinds of animals. They take their name from a Caló gypsy word for "something difficult, tangled, confusing or fantastic."

Includes a thread for hanging.

Because each alebrije is individually created work of folk art, shapes will vary slightly. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Working in the folk art style of alebrije sculptures, Mexican duo Pablo and Lucy Mendez create this striking addition to your home decor. Carved of copal wood and painted by hand with dot motifs in fiery tones of red, yellow, and orange, a lithe tree frog splays its limbs.

Alebrijes are a fairly recent Mexican art form, attributed to Pedro Linares. Unconscious due to illness in 1936, he was presumed near death and yet his dreams were extremely vivid. He tells of a place where all was peaceful and quiet until all of a sudden there appeared a lion with an eagle's head, a rooster with bull's horns and a donkey with butterfly wings. They kept screeching "alebrije, alebrije!" and Pedro began running away. He encountered a man who told him it was not yet his time to be there are and he should continue running towards the exit. In this dream Pedro climbed out of a window and regained consciousness.

From the handicrafts mecca that is Tlaquepaque, Mexico, comes this vibrant hand-painted skull by Maria and Esteban. Dark eyebrows frame a smiling rose-colored face while small pink-tipped white flowers and festive peacocks in orange, cyan and sky blue adorn the back and sides. Bold explosions of color characterize Mexican folklore, and this decorative skull is an excellent example of this tradition.

The famous Catrina—an icon of femininity and tradition in the celebrations held in honor of the Day of the Dead—arrives in a wondrous floral dress that evokes the tropical side of Mexico's summer season. Master artisan Jorge Escamilla captures the icon's enigmatic and playful beauty in a ceramic sculpture painted by hand in a palette of orange hues. The piece also arrives with a little monkey climbing its dress, symbolizing fun and youth.

Spreading its enchanting feathers, this beautiful hummingbird embodies the aura of an ethereal Eden, transporting you to a realm full of peace and perfection. Mexican artisans Zeny and Reyna handcraft this glorious ornament from copal wood, transforming the piece into a traditional alebrije figurine whose palette of orange, kiwi and lemon hues creates a vibrant illusion. In addition, a little loop allows you to hang the design anywhere.