Alebrije Coyote – Gueu’ III

Technique: Hand-painted copal wood sculpture.
Unique piece. Piece on the photo is the one delivered with its certificate of authenticity.

Carving: 8 days.
Drying: 6 months.
Decorating: 3 months.

Zapoteca copal wood figures whose original name is "tonas" or "nahuales".

This special selection of oaxacan Alebrijes is hand painted on wood sculptures from the copal tree (Bursera, spp), which grows around the community of San Martín Tilcajete, in the Zapoteca region of Oaxaca, in the south of Mexico.

In this place, for generations the inhabitants have developed the handcrafts work on pieces of this wood. The elaboration of each artwork can take 15 months (depending on the dimensions and the details) from the start till the end, using simple tools such as machete, gouges or knives to carve adequately; being the drying process of the wood where the patience and detailing are the most important. Later the simbolic implicit details of the ancient Zapoteca cosmovision come, narrating the iconic animals which represent their culture, elevating the elements that sustain the life of this folk.