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.
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.
