formal shawl

Whether it is used for warmth, fashion, and utilitarian purposes like carrying bundles, the rebozo has long had a place in Mexican life. Find your own uses for this versatile shawl by Delfina Ruiz in Mexico. In off-white and sapphire blue, the rebozo is handwoven on a traditional Zapotec loom using cotton threads tinted with all-natural dyes. Long, elegant hand-knotted fringe completes the lovely design.

Arranged on a chair with a dove on top, a woman's dress, shawl, and winged boots suggest their former inhabitant. Mexican artist Laura Villanueva creates this limited-edition surrealist print, celebrating the legacy of Frida Kahlo. Frida's portrait is displayed on the blue wall alongside the set of clothing.

Titled La pequeña Frida in Spanish.

Artisan Luis Morales of Mexico crafts a charming ceramic Catrina to grace your mantel or shelf. Formed by hand from clay, her homely ensemble is carefully painted in blue and orange with an ivory apron and black shawl. Her hair is braided and she carries a basket of lilies on her back. The elegant figure is based on a satirical etching created by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada around 1910-1913. With his etching, Posada poked fun at those Mexican natives who tried to emulate the fashion and habits of the European aristocracy. Today, la Catrina has become the instantly recognizable icon of Día de los Muertos (Mexico's Day of the Dead).

A mischievous devil spikes the agave fields, surrounded by musical instruments and a sarape shawl in a card marked as number 2. It comes from Marina Pallares' original interpretation of the lotería, a unique version of the classic bingo game featuring traditional Mexican images. The devil is a classic feature in the game, because according to Mexican beliefs, one cannot fear what one laughs about, and it is also presented in diminutive, less threatening form: little devil. The loteria made its appearance in the second half of the 18th century, and it is still a favorite at schools, fairs, carnivals and festivals. "I grew up in Jalisco, known for the production of tequila from agave plants, and as a child I used to play lotería all the time. These two facts inspired me to create the 'Tequila Lotto' series," confides Pallares, who credits the influence of Leopoldo Méndez and José Guadalupe Posada in her work. She masters aquafortis and aquatint etching techniques to create this eloquent composition.

Titled "Lotería tequilera" in Spanish.