MEXICO’S
FOLK ART AND CRAFTS
BRIEF
HISTORY
Mexico has a long and rich history of which the first Mexican culture of
which archaeological evidence has been discovered is the Olmec. Subsequent
cultures followed and overlapped being the Maya, Zapotec and Mixtec, Teotihuacan,
Toltec and finally Aztec. For over three thousand years, these groups lived
in regions stretching from the Rio Grande borderlands
in the north to Guatemala
in the south. They raised crops such as corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, cacao,
chilli peppers, and cotton. They traded with surrounding areas for jade, obsidian,
and metals and the technologies were pottery, weaving, and stone working.
As early as the 6th century BC, the people of this region created and used
a 260-day ritual calendar. Around AD 150 the Maya developed an advanced form
of hieroglyphic writing.
In
1519 the Spaniard Hernando Cortes sailed to Mexico with his army seeking new conquests and
riches. He defeated Moctezuma, the king of the great Aztec empire, and for
the next 300 hundred years Mexico
was ruled by Spain.
Intermarriage between the Spanish and native populations created a new ethnic
group called mestizo with the Spanish influencing much of the culture in Mexico. Many European technologies
were brought, Catholic religion and so were horses were introduced to Mexico.
Since the end of the 17th Century and during the 18th Century, a colonial
art flourished that was a combined art: the Spaniards contributed their religion
and all their traditions and techniques and the natives, on their part, their
attachment to the land, their fantasies and ancestral rites. Later, without
losing its native identity, the art was influenced by western cultures, such
as Spanish, French and Italian. The themes used in folk-art come from the
experiences of daily life giving us a glimpse into the rich and vital traditions
of Mexico.
Mexico fought for its independence from Spain which was declared in
1810 but it took over ten years of struggle to become free of Spanish rule.
For a short period, between 1821 and 1823, the Central American countries
of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
and Nicaragua
became part of the Mexican empire. In 1910 the Mexican revolution
a serious conflict between rich and poor occurred with an aim of overthrowing
the dictator Porfirio Díaz. During his rule, a minority controlled most of
the country's power and wealth, while the majority of the population worked
in poverty. The revolution was fought and won by Mexican peasants. The 1920s
and 1930s have often been described as Mexico's
renaissance for the reforms such as land reforms, education, a reduction in
Church power etc. were put into practice. In 1938 the oil industry and the
USA and British owned companies
were nationalized. During this time the government
and the general population took a new interest in the arts and culture of
Mexico. Many people began
collecting and preserving folk arts in Mexico
and exhibitions on Mexican folk arts were displayed in museums in Mexico and in the United States.
Mexico's earliest surviving art are the rock paintings of the Sierra de San
Francisco and the giant heads of the Olmec civilization. The Maya were fine
craftsmen and like the Toltecs and Aztecs they used their art to decorate
their temples with friezes, statues, carvings and wall paintings. Although
much pre-conquest decorative art was broken up or, in the case of gold work,
melted down, however a rich heritage remains. Unfortunately almost all the
books and writings of the Maya and Aztecs were lost or deliberately de stroyed.
Little survives of Mexico's Pre-Columbian past. There are some examples
of Mayan writing, the Codices, and a few fragments of Aztec poetry. The Mexican folk art and crafts were created by artists
who have had little or no formal art education. The folk artists work within
established traditions or may create their own distinct art forms that demonstrate
great ingenuity and creativity in overcoming technical difficulties.
Folk
arts, including the weaving of magnificent textiles, pottery making, and silver
work have flourished in Mexico
throughout its history, but with the coming of the Spanish to Mexico the native peoples
were introduced to European art, especially painting, and building techniques.
Spanish paintings were brought to Mexico, and during the 17th
century gifted native artists became proficient at religious oil painting,
modelling religious figures in wax, and the art of polychrome wood sculpture.
The serenity and sensitivity of the early native art combined with the Spanish
influence to give to Mexican painting mellowness and richness of colour not
yet achieved in Spain
at that time.
FORMS
OF MEXICAN FOLK ART AND CRAFTS
1
RETABLO or LAMINAS
It
is derived from the word retable or “behind the altar”. Retablos are
oil paintings, usually on tin, of a Christian saint or saints. They were painted
by untrained artists from the provinces of Mexico. They were to devotional
paintings on sheets of tin coated with iron, which depict saints and religious
figures. Retablo art forms flourished during the second half of the 19th century
in Mexico.
They were first painted on canvas and wood, then on hand-hammered copper plates.
The paintings proliferated in the 19th century when cheap sheets of tin, imported
to Mexico from Europe,
became available to the artists. Many retablos were presented in highly embossed
and decorated tin frames. At the end of the 19th century hand-painted retablos
fell from favour and were replaced by commercial chromolithographs from France
and Germany.
Although retablos are captivating and colourful, they were used less for adornment
than for protection for the home and its inhabitants against the maladies
of life. Devout Mexicans placed them on their home altars, where they were
appealed to for good health, prosperity, and relationships, protection from
all evils and for eternal salvation. The use and worship of retablos was a
very central part of the lives of the Mexican people, and their power and
meaning carry on even today.
2
EX-VOTOS
In
Mexico, an ex-voto is most
commonly a personal thank you note to God, often taking the form of
folk art. Ex-votos are modest narrative paintings offering thanks to
religious figures prayed to in times of serious illnesses or tragic accidents.
In images of Jesus, Mary or a patron saint, ex-votos exhibit the deep religious
faith of their storytellers. In most cases, the ex-voto is signed and dated,
and explains why the giver is giving thanks - what God did for him or her.
Complete with written tales and dates, ex-votos provide insight into the every
day culture and lives of the people of Mexico
in the 19th and early-20th centuries. The paintings represent a situation
in which a person has prayed for a miracle to a particular saint and in exchange
for answering their plea, the petitioner has promised to give an offering
in the name of the saint. In many cases, they tell a very touching personal
story. Though some ex-votos are painted by the person receiving the miracle,
most are produced by commissioned artists who specialized in this type of
work. Most villages had at least one professional ex-voto artist. The client
would relate the story of the miracle to the artist who would then interpret
the story with images and words. The ex-voto is most often left at a church
altar. The most common reason for thanks is health, with many ex-votos
dedicated after operations. Survival of accidents is a close second.
Ex-votos are found in nearly all Mexican churches.
3
MILAGROS
The
Spanish word milagro means miracle or surprise. Traditionally
milagros is used to describe small silver or gold coloured offerings in the
shape of arms, legs, other body parts or animals. They are attached to the
statues of saints or the walls of churches as a request for help in connection
with that body part or as thanks for help already received. Milagros can be
flat or sculptured, small or large and made of virtually anything the petitioner
thinks is appropriate. The use of milagros in Mediterranean cultures goes
back for thousands of years—it is a pre-Christian ritual. When the practice
was brought to the Americas by the Spanish it
was easily adopted by the Native Americans who had similar traditions involving
small amulets. Milagros are magical messages that are common to most cultures.
They can be used in religious or secular situations. They are miniature objects
in silver, tin, or gold. First, a person will ask for a favour from a saint.
Once the favour has been granted a milagro is pinned on or near a religious
figure in thanks for the granting of a favour. They are often strung up on
red ribbons. People also carry milagros for protection and good luck. Often,
a retablo or some other sacred image in a home will have milagros nailed to
the frame, in such a way that the saint represented in the picture might bless
the persons represented by the milagros, or the cares of these persons. Different
milagros have different meanings and uses, and are often interpreted differently
by different people, or for different occasions. Here is a list of some typical
milagros that are commonly used
| HEART
|
represent
the human heart, connected with cares of worries over a heart condition,
might represent the love that one person feels for another, a romance,
represent the Sacred Heart of Jesus, or the Sacred Heart of Mary |
| EYES
|
about
eye conditions, represent the concept of watching, |
| PRAYING
WOMAN |
represent
a woman, such as ones mother or wife, represent any female saint, such
as the Virgin Mary, any other woman who is perceived as being faithful
and fervent |
| THE
PRAYING MAN |
represent
a man, such as ones father or husband, any other man who is perceived
as being faithful and fervent, any male saint |
| WOMAN’S
HEAD |
represent
a woman, a woman’s mind, a woman’s spirit, a condition such a headache |
| MAN’S
HEAD |
represent
a man, a man’s head, a man’s mind, a man’s spirit, a condition such
a headache |
| GIRL
|
represent
one’s female child, or a niece, a grandchild, represent the childlike
qualities in anyone, a symbol of thanksgiving for the birth
of a baby |
| BOY
|
represent
one’s male child, or a nephew, a grandchild, represent the childlike
qualities in anyone, a symbol of thanksgiving for the birth
of a baby |
| ARM
|
represent
an arm itself, some condition associated with it, such as an injury,
represent ones strength, ones ability to work, represent an embrace,
and physical demonstrations of affection that involve embracing |
| LEG
|
represent
ones leg itself, some condition associated with it, such as an injury,
represent ones strength, and the concept of travel, a journey |
| HOUSE
|
One’s
own home, and the blessings that might be had on it, and on the family
that dwells there, represent the hope of having one’s home, When travelling,
it can be a charm to insure that one will arrive safely home again,
or it can establish a connection between the traveller and the loved
ones at home. |
| HEN
|
represent
ones own hen, with one seeking blessings so that she might always lay
good eggs, the concept of mothering |
| BULL
|
symbolize
strength, husbanding, protection, stamina, endurance |
| HORSE
|
symbolize
the qualities of a man in being a workhorse, travel |
| SHEEP
|
symbolize
any of the Bible verses about sheep, symbolize the concept of togetherness,
might also be used a charm to try and erase the effects of behaviour
that is typically described in a negative way |
| DOG
|
symbolize
loyalty, symbolize protection |
| PIG
|
symbolize
nourishment, might also be used a charm to try and erase the effects
of behaviour that is typically described in a negative way as being
like that of a pig, such as perceived lack of control in ones eating
habits, or lack of manners and self control. |
4
MASKS
A
mask is a device for driving the personality out of the body and allowing
a spirit to take possession of it. Masks have been used in many cultures around
the world. Masks were an important part of Mexican culture long before the
Spanish arrived. Today, masks are mostly found in the southern, central, and
north-western states of Mexico where many Indian populations live. The
masks are usually of beings either human, animal, male or female. Many times
it is a combination of elements from various categories. Some masks serve
as reminders of ancient deities from the prehistoric world. Masks are still
used at many festivals and ceremonial dances. Many of the masked dances are
performed to secure happiness and good fortune. Popular subjects performed
with masks include re-enactment of the Spanish Conquest, religious tales,
and dramas that include
animals
and supernatural figures. In most areas masks are made by specialists who
are usually men. Carved and painted wood is the most common material used.
Masks are also made from leather, papier-mâché, clay, cloth, cardboard, wire
mesh, gourds, and wax. A unique collection of wooden hand carved and painted
masks from the states of Guerrero,
Oaxaca and Michoacan.
5 POTTERY
Ever
since men and women have been known to be on earth, they made and used pottery.
Long ago items made from clay were created for their utilitarian value, to
carry things in pots and to store things in pots. Nowadays pottery serve a
decorative purpose as well in our homes and offices. Pottery is probably the
most popular Mexican folk art, and one of the most ancient. Pottery is found
throughout the country, in many different styles and forms. The Teotihuacans
(100 B.C. – 800 A.D.) prepared the majority of their vessels with clay and decorated
them with a variety of techniques: mainly stucco, painting, and smoothing.
The pottery of the Aztecs (1325 A.D. – 1521 A.D.) was extremely varied.
They made all types of earthenware, plates, jugs, cups, pots, mostly
with red and orange clay. The Mixtecs stood out for their polychrome
lacquer ceramics, in which after polishing a piece, they would cover it with
white stucco and then paint it. When the Spaniards arrived, the blending of
societies allowed the indigenous people to learn new techniques, and the combination
of styles gave life to some of the more famous ceramic styles of Mexican earthenware,
such as the “majolica” or Talavera. Each style and
finish is tied to an indigenous tradition and locale. Sun baked terra cotta
comes from Puebla's arid landscape, reduction fired black clay pots from the Zapotec
village of San
Bartolo and hand-moulded pre-Columbian figures are inspired by early Colima
sculptures. Mexican ceramics bring together the influences of pre-Hispanic,
European, Arabic and Oriental cultures.
Mexican
pottery was traditionally made by hand, using coils or moulds. Called earthenware,
this clay was fired at low temperatures. Before the Spanish came to Mexico
,
the firing took place in open fires. Mineral glazes, the potter's wheel and
open top kilns were introduced by the Spanish and are used today. Common everyday
pottery (la loza corriente) is simply decorated. It comes in a range
of shapes and sizes. Most of this pottery is used to hold food or liquids.
The more decorative pottery is often used for ceremonies or household decoration.
Pots are decorated with slips (layers of liquid clay), paints, and glazes.
Animal and human figurines are often made for sale. Villages often specialize
in making certain types of pottery. Inbgot many areas of the country, women might
make the common ware and men the decorative. In some villages the entire family
will work together to make a certain type of pottery. Pottery, like all other
Mexican crafts, has changed in the last 100 years. Traditional pottery is
still made, but now usually forzswp;m sale.
Whether
you select from our aged-clay artefacts or our other earthenware Mexican pottery,
these figurines, vessels and wall-art find their inspiration and technique
in Mexico's ancient
art.
6
LACQUERWARE
Lacquer
is a shiny coating applied over wood or gourd for protection or decoration.
Applying lacquer is done in two series. First, the surface is smeared with
vegetable or insect oils. Next, it is covered with several coats of powdered
minerals, which are dried and polished before being painted. Lacquer is done
in three regions—Michoacán, Guerrero and Chiapas.
Three basic methods are used to create lacquerware: inlaid (embutido) which
is popular in Michoacán; painted (aplicado or dorado) in Guerrero and Chiapas; or carved (rayado) in Guerrero. For inlaid
pieces, a design is first laid down. Next, parts of the pattern are cut out
and the hollows filled in with another colour. For the carved technique, two
coats of contrasting colours are applied and the top coat is scratched away.
For painting, designs are simply painted with oil pigments onto the lacquer
surface. Lacquerware often comes in the form of gourds, as well as wooden
trays, dishes, and boxes. Decorations include flowers, leaves, people, birds,
and other animals.
7
BASKETRY, GOURDS AND GLASS
Basketry
is another of the most ancient of Mexican crafts. Basketry may be created
for everyday use or for decoration. In earlier times, baskets were woven for
utilitarian uses, but now many villages rely almost exclusively on the baskets
they produce for tourists.
The
baskets are all woven by hand using natural fibres found in the forest. Several
types of palm fibres are used. The pigments used to produce colours are also
all natural and stem from various plants and earth which they gather in the
jungle or grow in their gardens. The motifs for the baskets portray life in
the village, local animals, insects, birds, plants, or just geometric patterns
at the whim of the weaver. Seldom, if ever, are two baskets alike. Factors
which influence the price are size and quality (size, evenness, and tightness
of stitching, evenness of shape and pattern), and, of course, the overall
aesthetic impression.
Gourd
containers are another common craft that was used as early as 8000 BC; the
gourd is a natural container. Many are left plain as bowls and utensils; some
are used for rattles, while others are decorated for sale. In parts of Oaxaca, gourds are decoratively carved by Mixtec Indians. Coconut shells
and other large seeds are carved in the same way in Tabasco
and Veracruz.
Glass
was introduced to Mexico
by the Spanish. Puebla was the first place glass was
crafted, from which it spread to Mexico City and Jalisco, where most Mexican glass is made today. While
glass is most common in the form of containers, it is also popular in bead
form for jewellery. Mexican hand-blown glass is noted for its rich variety
of colour.
8
TOYS, MINITURES AND SKELETONS
Toys
are an exciting Mexican folk art made from all kinds of materials. There are
many different types of folk toys such as dolls, human and animal figurines,
coin banks, pull or push toys, whistles and rattles. In addition to the common,
everyday toys, many are made for ceremonial use, especially for Day of the
Dead. In Mexican culture there is a philosophical acceptance of death as an
integral part of the cycle of life. During "Los Dias de los Muertos",
(Day of the Dead) people believe that the souls of the dead return every year
to earth for one day. Many toys, once made for a child's play, have now become
forms of folk art that are made for sale. Miniatures are an especially rich
tradition in Mexico.
They are made to look just like the full-size objects they are modelled after.
They may be made by children or used as children's toys, made and collected
by adult Mexicans, or sold to foreign tourists.
9
PAPER
From
time immemorial, paper has been used in Mexico. Paper created from tree bark was made
into books to record ancient histories, for decoration and for ceremonial
use. The paper is most often used to make paper dolls that represent different
humans, animals and spirits. These paper dolls are used in different rituals.
Bark paper made by the Otomí Indians is also used by Mexican artists, especially
from the state of Guerrero. On this bark paper, they create lively paintings
that include flowers and animal figures. Paper cuts (papel picado) are a popular
form of decoration used for holidays and festivals in Mexico. In its simplest
form, paper is folded and cut with scissors to form different patterns. The
paper is then glued together to form banners that can be hung most anywhere.
Skilled craftsmen use tools such as blades, awls, and chisels to create more
complicated designs that include animals, skeletons, flowers and much more.
Papier-mâché
(papel pegado) is a very popular art form in Mexico. Large carnival head figures and piñatas
are made from papier-mâché for different festivals and holidays. Animals,
skeletons, dolls and other toys are also made from papier-mâché to be used
for decorations or for sale. Pieces of paper are torn into strips and soaked
in paste. A frame is made out of wood or wire to form a body. Strips of paper
are then pasted onto the frame. After the piece is dry it is painted. The
strips of paper are applied until the basic shape is created. When the piece
is dry, extra features such as noses, ears and hands are added. Next, the
piece is decorated with coloured papers and foils, or it is painted in bright
colours. Papier mâché is also created using moulds made from fired clay or
plaster. By creating moulds, the same figure can be made over and over again
for sale. Two moulds are made, one for each half of the figure. Once the wet
paper is almost dry, the two halves are pasted together.
10
TIN AND COPPER
During
the colonial times the Spanish introduced tin to Mexico. Many items are made from tin, such as
ornaments, mirror frames, and small boxes. Tin is often cut out by hand, and
special tools are used to punch designs into the tin. Parts of tin are put
together using lead solder and a soldering iron. The tin is then painted in
a variety of colours. Copper was also introduced by the Spanish. Craftsmen
create copper plates, pitchers, mugs, trays, cups, candlesticks, and other
useful objects that are sold throughout Mexico. Many Tarascan Indians of Michoacán specialize
in copperware. They hammer out the pieces by hand. Some of these specialists
craft miniatures of their larger counterparts.
11
WOODCARVING
Oaxaca
Valley is in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.
Many of the carvers are descendants of the Zapotec Indians, native to this
area. The soft wood of the copal tree is used to carve these amazing creatures.
These figures are crafted with a great deal of imagination. They are carved,
sanded and then painted by hand using bright colours. The carvings are usually
made for sale. Men often carve the figures, when they are not farming, in
order to earn extra money to support their families. Sometimes an entire family
may help create these fantastic and amusing figures.
Milagros
is an assorted arts and crafts store and folk art gallery in Britain
offering Mexican folk art in a dazzling wealth of form, colour and fantasy.
Milagros imports ceramic hand made Mexican wall tiles, hand blown
glass, hand woven bags, oil cloth flower and fruit bags, wood carvings, glassware, ceramic
pots, bags, plastic
basketry, wooden
figures, niches,
silver, Mexican Tiles,
amber, talavera, dichroic jewellery, mirrors and much more. Milagros
have combed the markets and small villages to find the most creative and enduring
pieces. Much of what you will find in Milagros is made as it was
for hundreds of years in Mexico.
Milagros works with independent makers and small workshops from Mexico to bring you beautiful
and finely finished hand crafted products. We have imported goods from Mexico
for 17 years and have consistently worked with the same makers and workshops.
Our Mexican tiles are handmade with a choice of fifteen that can be used in
both traditional and contemporary setting. We can assure you that pottery
is still formed by hand, natural dyes are made from plants and insects collected
from the countryside, copper is hand-pounded into wonderful utensils, and
rugs are woven on classic looms. The themes used in niches Amor
Eterno, Frida
Kahlo, Fruta
Madre, Skellys
at the Cathedral, and Skellys
Wedding demonstrate the experiences of daily life giving us a glimpse
into the rich and vital traditions of Mexico. All of the carved and painted
wooden figures Milagros offers have been designed and hand-crafted
by artists such as Ventura Fabian, Innocente Melchor,
Marie Jimernez, Justo Xuana, Martin Melchor, Jaime Santiago, Isidoro Cruz, Innocencio Vasquez,
Jesus Melchor and
Coindo Melchor whose
work is of the finest quality . We work not only with distinguished artists
but also with new upcoming artists whose talents we want to share with you.
Milagros strives to bring you the best in Mexican folk art, crafts
and gifts. Browse our products
and make your selection. Please visit our store at 53 Columbia Road, London. E2 7RG. Our contact telephone
and Fax is 020 7613 0876. Ordering may be done online with our terms
& conditions applying.
RESOURCES
Burt
Wolf: Travels & traditions Chimayo,
New Mexico
Mullen
Nicole, 2004, Mexican folk art, Phoebe a. Hearst
Museum of anthropology University of California, USA
www.mexicanmasks.usa
www.oaxacaoxaca.com\mitla
www.advantagemexico.com\oxaca\milta
www.kalarte.com\latin\tin\tintext
Mexican
Folk Art, Crafts and Gifts http://www.milagrosparati.com/index.htm
Mexican
art and architecture http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/
Old
Mexico Art http://www.oldmexicoart.com/index.ssp
Mexican
Milagros - Their Meaning and Their Use www.faustosgallery.com
Milagros
Gallery http://www.milagrosgallery.com/