MEXICAN ALEBRIJE OAXACAN LLAMA 17” WOOD CARVING FOLK ART OKAPI SIGNED SANTIAGO

Description: Measures diagonally from 17” tip of tail to tip of nose. 15” tall to tip of horns. Mexican Oaxacan La Union Tejalapam Folk Art. Vintage older 1960s to 1970s Carved by the Santiago Family ; most were not signed, this one is! Hand-carved Copal wood with a few insect holes (proof of authenticity!) Alebrije Animalito — OKAPI. (A little-known African animal with hooves, horns, and striped legs). I don’t think a Oaxacan farmer would have known about this animal—I didn’t know until I did internet research—so I suspect this animal is an early version of the creative fantastical, other-worldly animals known now as Alebrijes. Aniline dyed reddish pink (ground powder mixed with water) with hand painted black detail and yellow eyes. Signed, no labels or tags. In VG+ vintage original condition. In the 1940s, with the construction of the Pan-American Highway, Oaxaca, Mexico, opened up to tourism, and early folk art stores began to open in Oaxaca City and at the Monte Alban archeological site. It was at this time as a young child tending goats that Manuel Jimenez began carving and selling his creations. Then, eventually, this new art form caught on in neighboring Oaxacan towns. The Santiago Family became well known for the style of carving offered in this listing. This animal carving is from that early time period which lasted through the 60’s -70’s and eventually evolved into the colorful detailed alejibres so valued today. This was purchased in a market many decades ago The carving of a piece, which is done while the Copal wood is wet, is often influenced by the shape of the wood; the shapes the branches are unique and male and female trees differ in hardness and shape. Carving is done with non-mechanical hand tools such as machetes, chisels and knives. The only time a more sophisticated tool is used is when a chain saw is employed to cut off a branch or level a base for the proposed figure. Certain details such as ears, tails and wings are usually made from pieces separate from the one for the main body. After the carving, the figure is then left to dry for up to ten months, depending on its overall size and thickness. Semi tropical wood such as copal is susceptible to insect infestations, and for this reason drying pieces are often soaked in gasoline and sometimes baked to ensure that all insect eggs have been destroyed. As the figure dries, it is also susceptible to cracking. The cracks are filled with small pieces of copal wood and a sawdust resin mixture before painting. Oaxaca woodcarvings were all originally painted with aniline paints made with natural ingredients such as bark of the copal tree, baking soda, lime juice, pomegranate seeds, zinc, indigo, huitlacoche and cochineal. These colorings were also used for dying clothing, ceremonial paints and other uses. Since 1985, most carvers have now switched to acrylics which resist fading and withstand repeated cleanings better. Some still use aniline paints as they have a more rustic look that some customers prefer. Either way, the painting is generally done in two layers, with a solid undercoat and a multicolored designed superimposed. Please review all photos as part of the description.

Price: 89 USD

Location: Fenton, Michigan

End Time: 2024-11-03T21:00:03.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD