mother sculpture

This marvelous alebrije sculpture is from Mexican artisans Gerardo and Teresa Ojeda. Carved from copal wood, a mother opossum carries her three joeys on her back. The sculpture is painted by hand in wonderful detail, and the baby opossums are attached to the mother with aluminium wire.

The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930s 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 the nonsense word, "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream in papier mache. 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.

I don't know what this monkey is thinking, but I bet his mother taught him to be discreet. This sculpture is an example of a Oaxacan alebrije, a copal wood carving hand-painted in various bright colours and intricate patterns. This monkey is the work of Jesus and Roxana Hernandez, noted alebrije carvers whose work has won awards and media attention. The slender tail is removed for shipping.

Known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, this depiction of mother Mary is popular in South American cultures. Peruvian artisan Alejandro Chavez creates this traditional retablo, crafted of wood with hand-painted floral motifs around the edges. Inside, Mary and baby Jesus are crafted from ceramic paste and given a hand-painted finish.

Goddess of fertility, mother of the stars, and grandmother of humanity, Coatlicue is the supreme and sacred embodiment of maternity in the Aztec world. Often known as the patron of those who die in childbirth, the deity is exquisitely depicted by the Angel Ceron Artisan Association in Mexico. The team uses ceramic and mineral dyes to portray Coatlicue in the same splendor the ancestral Aztec artisans once did, bringing this exquisite sculpture to life.

Taxiing the little ones around is the least that moms do, even turtle moms. She and her four babies are alebrijes, fanciful animal figures made famous in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. This particular figure is the work of Gerardo and Teresa Ojeda. The little ones detach from mom for safe shipping.

Expressing their love for Mother Mary, Guatemalan artisans Juan and Carolina create this reverent tall statuette. Hand-carved from a single piece of pinewood, this tall statuette features colorful floral motifs and other designs that are painted entirely by hand. In one hand, Mary holds baby Jesus.

With a corona on top of her head, Mother Mary stands with her hands held together in prayer as she wears a floral dress. This tall statuette is created by Guatemalan artisans Juan and Carolina; they hand-carve the figure of mary from a single piece of pinewood, which is then painted by hand with the colorful designs.

Seeming to glow with holy energy, the mother of Jesus is captured in this impressive statuette from Guatemala. Artisan duo Juan and Carolina create the statuette, carved of pinewood and hand-painted with floral motifs in rustic tones. Each tendril of light that surrounds her is made of a separate piece of wood, and is removable. Say the artisans, "We love being able to create all of these pieces, because with them we can portray saints that are worthy of the devotion of many Guatemalans who have witnessed their miracles through fervent orations."