creature sculpture

This charming alebrije sculpture is the original creation of Mexico's Pablo and Lucy Mendez. The perky chihuahua is carved by hand from copal wood before being painted in meticulous detail. Suns, stars, spirals and fretwork in blue, violets and turquoise shades cover the sculpture.

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.

Artisans Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of Mexico handcraft this charming coyote alebrije figurine. Painted in colorful shades such as turquoise and chartreuse, the copal wood coyote takes a howling pose. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

The alebrije tradition started with Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he fell into a coma due to serious illness. While he was unconscious, he dreamed 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. Upon recovering, Linares recreated these figures in bright colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and was one of the main influences of artisans in the state of Oaxaca who began crafting alebrijes of their own using traditional wood carving methods.

Whatever it is, this cat is ready to confront it! This fantastically colored animal figure is an alebrije, a sculpture style made famous in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He is signed by creators Gerardo and Teresa Ojeda. The tail detaches for safe shipping.

This black and turquoise mouse figure is a magical alebrije, an animal wood carving painted in fantastic colors. He is named after another fantasy creature, the Ratoncito Pérez, Mexico's answer to the tooth fairy. He is created and signed by artists Gerardo and Teresa Ojeda of Oaxaca, Mexico. The tail detaches for safe shipping.