Handcrafted Oaxacan Wood Alebrije, "Colorful Squirrel"

This stunning alebrije sculpture is the original work of Esteban Hernandez in Mexico. Carved by hand from copal wood, the statuette is painted in meticulous detail with elaborate patterns and bold colors.

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.