Catalog #300440 Nahual Drinking Set Oaxacan Wood Carving by Inocencio Vasquez from San Martin Tilcajete Collected in 1997 SOLD
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 Oaxaca is a
Mecca for a variety of Mexican crafts including
weaving, ceramics, and painted "animalitos".
Although the origins of the style can be traced back to Pre-Columbian times,
Oaxacan "animalitos"
first caught the attention of international collectors in the 1960s when Nelson Rockefeller
returned to the United States with a small collection of figures purchased on a
trip to Southern Mexico.
Rockefeller was an enthusiastic collector of international folk art, and his
patronage of a small group of local craftspeople is Oaxaca, Mexico sparked a
movement resulted in the development of one of the most recognizable forms of
contemporary Mexican Folk Art. The art form matured in the 1970s and
80s, and now there are more than 200 families carving in and around Oaxaca.
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A
Nahual is a shape shifter, a magician capable of taking on the form of
an animal. Many Oaxacan carvings reflect this belief, and combine
human and animal forms into imaginative characters. In this case
the group consists of 3 cows and a chicken. All four are dressed
in colorful shirts and coveralls. The
set is hand carved and painted, in excellent condition with vibrant
color, and no cracks or other damage. Included are
4 figures, 4 chairs, a table, and 8 bottles of mezcal. The figures
are articulated at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.
Figures are approx. 12 inches tall. Table is 4 wide x 6 long
inches, chairs are 5.5 inches tall to top of chair back. The
grouping is very charming with a delightful sense of humor.