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Latin and
Caribbean Art:
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Possum Mother and babies, $370 by
new upcoming carver Rosario
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Oaxacan Magical Carvings -
Mexico Oaxaca, pronounced (Wa-HAH-ka) is one
of the Mexico's largest and poorest states, yet its folk art and traditions are among the
richest. Unsurpassed for their originality, colors and wizardry, Oaxacan
wood carvings have become a prized folk art. |
| The majority of their carvings are called
Alebrijes. Alebrijes are wood carvings made by the Zapotec Indians. The
Zapotec Indians primarily concentrated in the Oaxaca Valley, located in the Southern
Mexican State of Oaxaca. |
Majestic Peacock, $480 by master
carver Calvo. (feet) |
Devilish Rooster,
C007-MX, $140M, $195L.
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The wood-carving techniques and artistic capacity of the Zapotec people are legendary,
honed over hundreds of generations. Each of the wooden sculptures are hand-carved
from the wood of the Copal (or Copillo) tree. Each piece is hand-sanded and painted
in bright and exciting motifs. Oaxacan wood carvings were featured on the cover of
the Smithsonian magazine (May, 1991). |
| There are two hundred or so families of
wood-carvers in the Oaxaca valley. Most are poor farmers who carve when there is
nothing pressing to be done in the fields. They still believe in many of the old
Zapotec rituals and gods. As with many other Indian groups in Mexico, the Oaxacans
are trying to keep their culture alive.
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El Coqui Galleries is pleased to introduce the works of Manuel
Jimenez, the Father of Oaxacan carvings. Jimenez
has pioneered a renaissance of folk-art carving in the Oaxaca
valley in southern Mexico. Even he is surprised when he is told there
are now 200 families of carvers (including five Jimenez grandsons) and
dozens of stores in Oaxaca that carry their work. The boom
has converted poor villages of subsistence farmers and itinerant
laborers into prosperous communities of artisans. It has brought
isolated peasants into daily contact with tourists, merchants and
gallery owners from around the world. Above all, in the space of just
a few years, Oaxaca woodcarving has
become legitimized as an art form worthy of critical attention and
exhibition."
| La Gazela by M.
Jimenez |
El Jaguar by M.
Jimenez |
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"Handmade with the crudest of
tools, the carvings are at once bewitched and guileless. You sense the
person behind the object," says Marsha Bol, former curator of
Latin American folk art for the Museum of International Folk Art in
Santa Fe. "I don't want to use the words "charming" and
"delightful" because that's what people always say about
folk art and it misses what's going on; the work is very much based in
the religious and everyday life of the people who make it. It's
mysterious. At the same time, it's just so friendly and
approachable." Master Jimenez works show a degree of
sophisticated not easily found in other carvers. He does not
carve in the nopal wood, he carves in hard wood like cedar that he now
imports. His carving is arduous, starting with the large machete
to cut a big chunk of wood until a form comes alive with the help of
many rustic knives.
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Manuel Jimenez pieces can only be obtained by custom order. Please
contact us if you have a request. Our pieces are signed by the
artist.
Enjoy our extensive collection of fine carvings from the top artists in
Oaxaca. If you are interested on items that just
SOLD, please contact us at elcoquigifts@attglobal.net
and will do our utmost to find a similar piece.
Introducing Master
Jacobo Angeles and his wife.
Jacobo Angeles is a master carver who has
brought Oaxacan carving to a new level of artistry both in terms of
sculpting and painting. His pieces have been shown in several
galleries and museums in Chicago, Texas, California and as far as Japan.
He's the latest sought-after collector's favorite. Jacobo started
carving over ten years ago, met his wife, also a carver and painter at a
artisan exposition. From there they have formed a formidable team of
carver/painter with pieces that are truly artistic. Their painting
is inspired by the Zapotec traditions and characters, their colors are
mostly made from the natural seeds and plants, and their carving defines a
new level of art. Please take a look at our
catalog for more pieces or custom orders.
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Jacobo speaking at Mexican Museum
in Chicaog. Close up of painting details Nagual Female.
We are pleased to present fine Oaxacan carvings from a red rooster devil-like sculpture,
to a glass-eyed monkey, you will enjoy our selection. Please click on the picture
for additional details and for ordering information. Now you can have
your own prized piece of Oaxacan art, autographed by the original artisan! Click on
picture or go to our catalog.
If you would like to learn more, we recommend taking
a look at the book Oaxacan
Woodcarving : The Magic in the Trees
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Hawling Coyote in Blue, $145, C-4010-MX
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Hawling Coyote in Red, $145, C4008-MX
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Heads Up Iguana, $250, C3002-MX
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Spiky Porcupine C012-MX, $150.
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Alebrije Chiquito C014-MX, $39.
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Nacimiento, C044-MX$190
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Piglets Close Up
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Ma Pig and Piglets, $465, C4000-MX
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Magical Jaguar, C045-MX, $345
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Red Twisted Burro, C4003-MX, $390
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Black Twisted Burro, C4004-MX, $395
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Embossed Blue Mirror, C048-MX, $110
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Flowered Iguana |
C1106-MX Double Headed dragon $250 |
LaSirena, C1105-MX $130e |
Forest Tucan, C1107-MX $105 |
Gioconda Monkey $175 |
Tigrito and Paws, $300, C4026-MX
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Introducing Master
Jacobo Angeles
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Majestic Armadillo,$850
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Yellow Jaguar, $700 |
FNagual Woman, $850 |
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