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.

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.