pre hispanic art

Experts in pre-Hispanic art, artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association replicate this extraordinary statuette of Aztec-Mixtec origin. Dated 1325–1521 AD, a brave warrior holds a quetzal gently in his hand as the bird's long green tail cascades over his arm. Working with yellow clay from Oaxaca, the artisans sculpt this museum replica with magnificent details. Includes a stand.

Wearing a magnificent headdress and jewelry, this Maya man sits with an offering pot in this original sculpture by artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association. The Mexican artisans, expert in pre-Hispanic art and history, now venture into the creation of original characters inspired by historical facts. They handcraft the highly-detailed sculpture with yellow clay from the state of Oaxaca, and finish the Maya personage with brightly colored details.

Artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association replicate a ceramic vessel of a playful xoloitzcuintli pup, dated sometime between 200 - 600 A.D. It was originally found in a tumba de tiro burial place, so-called because it features interconnecting traits from diverse pre-Hispanic cultures from the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit and Colima. They believed the xoloitzcuintli transported the souls of the dead to the underworld. Officially certified by the Mexican government to replicate pre-Hispanic art, the artisans craft the ceramic sculpture with faithful details.

During Pre-Hispanic times, tlalchichis were a prized dog breed hailing from the Mexican state of Colima and are now the stars of this region’s most popular handicrafts. Members of the Angel Ceron Artisan Association depict this unique canine holding a vase in this phenomenal figurine handcrafted from ceramic in hues of grey and brown with a distinctive aged antique finish.

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.

Beginning in the sixth century B.C., varying versions of a ball game spread across Mesoamerica, and ball courts can be found in many pre-Hispanic cities. Stone rings, with openings just wide enough to allow the ball to pass through, hung vertically on each side of the court and opposing players tried to knock the ball through the rings using only their hips, buttocks and knees. By Elisa Camarena, this sculpture replicates a ball court ring from the Maya culture; it is displayed on a pinewood stand.

This fabulous ceramic figurine captures the essence of the revered tlalchichi dogs, once cherished companions during Pre-Hispanic times in the Mexican state of Colima. With a vase held gracefully in its paws, this extraordinary decorative accent showcases a blend of brown and grey hues with an exquisite aged antique finish. Experience the rich history and artistry of Mexico with this stunning treasure handcrafted by the members of the Angel Ceron Artisan Association.

Evoking beasts of ancient myths, this traditional alebrije sculpture from Mexico is created by Teresita Gonzalez. Hand-carved from copal wood, a majestic bull rears its head, featuring a hand-painted design with intricate motifs inspired by pre-Hispanic Nahua cultures. Curiously, the bull features a human face, complete with an elaborate mustache made from agave fibers. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Mexico's pre-Hispanic cultures honored their dead through celebrations and commemorations; after the arrival of the Spaniards, these cultural traditions became fused with the Catholic church's rituals and holidays, notably All Souls' Day in November which is now commonly known as the Day of the Dead. Influenced by these ancestral customs, artisans have been creating handicrafts using skull imagery for centuries. Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of the Mexican state of Oaxaca present this eye-catching skull-shaped home decor piece carved by hand from copal wood. Against a yellow base color, black lines are drawn to simulate a scaly texture, then the skull is further hand decorated with patches of geometric patterns on the top and sides in red, green, and pink. The dark eye sockets and nasal cavities are outlined in blue and green. Two rows of pearly white teeth complete the colorful cranium.