oaxaca wood

The exquisite detail on this handcrafted alebrije sculpture from Zeny and Reyna in Mexico make it a stunning addition to home decor. Carved by hand from copal wood, the imposing bull is carefully painted with a blazing sun motif as well as elaborate geometric motifs in a rainbow of colors. The tiny, intricate details are painted using a maguey thorn.

The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his fevered dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all ran at him, shouting "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache. The same style of painting can also be found on other (non-animal) items.

Add a truly fantastical touch to your home with this magnificent Pegasus alebrije. Pablo and Lucy Mendez hand-carve it from coal wood in an imposing stance with its wings gloriously spread. A hand-painted pattern in bright yellow, seafoam blue, white, and olive green pops against the creature's black background. This alebrije comes with removable wings and tail for safe shipping. An assembly manual is included for easy setup.

Pablo and Lucy enjoy blending traditional techniques with modern influences in their work to create innovative designs. They hope to keep Oaxaca's tradition of alebrije carving alive through their colorful pieces.

A perky blue parrot alights on a tree branch. With wings spread, it flaunts flirty feathers in bright primary colors. Pablo and Lucy Mendez carry on the traditional alebrije folk art they learned from their own parents to craft the beautiful bird.

Oaxaca's alebrije tradition derives from the art of Pedro Linares (1906-1992), a Mexico City papier mache artist. While in a coma during a serious illness, he found himself in a dream forest with fanciful creatures made with body parts from different animals. They cried, "Alebrije! Alebrije!" When he awakened, Linares crafted the figures in papier mache and his influence reached to Oaxaca, where they are carved from copal wood.

Because each sculpture is an individually created work of folk art, shapes are dictated by the wood branch and may vary slightly. The feathers and tree trunk are disassembled to protect them during shipping.

A rotund fish with big eyes swims sinuously in cool rivers. Colorful motifs from Zapotec art and ancient temples cover the body and fins. By Manuel Cruz, this is a beautiful example of Mexico's alebrije art. The image is carved by hand of copal wood in the style of Oaxaca and meticulously painted by hand with tiny brushes. The finer details are created using a maguey thorn instead of a brush.

The alebrije tradition originated with Mexico City artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became ill and fell into a coma. While he was unconscious, he dreamed he was caught between the land of the living and the dead, a place populated with creatures whose body parts belonged to different animals. The beings repeatedly cried, "Alebrije!" When he was well, Linares recreated these fanciful figures in papier mache. His work became famous and inspired artisans in the state of Oaxaca, who began crafting alebrijes of wood.

The wood branch dictates the final form, thus size and shapes can vary slightly. Thus, each alebrije is an authentic work of Mexican folk art.

Handcrafted by Pablo and Lucy Mendez of Mexico, this magnificent Pegasus stands with wings spread, poised for flight. Using bright colors, the artisans paint the copal wood alebrije statuette with meticulous detail. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

It is said that Oaxaca's alebrije tradition descends directly from Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became seriously ill and fell into a sort of coma. While he was unconscious, he had a most fantastic dream. He was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije, and when Linares woke up, he recreated these figures in vivid colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes . His work became famous and eventually influenced artisans in the state of Oaxaca who decided to craft alebrijes using traditional wood carving methods and according to that region's world vision.

This alebrije elephant has news to share. Eugenia and Roberto Sosa handcraft this trumpeting elephant from copal wood with vibrant colors and a variety of detailed motifs. They capture the energy of his big announcement with trunk raised to the sky and ears and tail held aloft. Alebrijes, a Mexican folk art popularized in Oaxaca, are detailed, colorful, and fantastical wood carvings.

The natural shape of the branch dictates the alebrije's finished form. Thus no two are ever identical, and each one is a unique example of Mexican folk art.

The tail is removed for shipping.

By Ruben and Gilda Perez, this beautiful mask depicts a bat, considered a rain god by both the Aztec and Maya cultures. During the dry season, masks such as this were used as a means of communication between humans and the deity in a request for rain. The artisans work in jade and stucco, carefully crafting a replica of a Mexican archaeological piece found in the Zapotec site of Monte Alban, Oaxaca. These replicas can take some seven days to complete. It arrives with a brass and pinewood display stand, and can also be displayed on the wall.