Multicolored Hand Painted Wood Turtle Alebrije Figurine, "The Turtle and the Sea"
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This brightly-colored copal wood turtle is something seen in a fever dream, but one that certainly isn't nightmarish. Hand-carved, the appealing sea turtle alebrije comes from Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca. The aquatic creature's flippers are turquoise blue and its head red and green. It's the beautiful hand painted shell where the artisan's skill really shines. Divided into seven segments, the shell features different intricate patterns in brilliant blue, green, purple, and pink.
It is said that Oaxaca's alebrije tradition descends directly from Mexico City artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became seriously ill and fell into a sort of coma. While he was unconscious, he had a most fantastic dream. He was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije, and when Linares woke up, he recreated these figures in vivid colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and eventually influenced artisans in the state of Oaxaca who decided to craft alebrijes using traditional wood carving methods and according to that region's world vision.
- 0.10 kgs
- 0.2 lbs
- 5 cm H x 15 cm W x 16 cm D
- 2" H x 6" W x 6.25" D
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Customer Reviews
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Beau
Verified Reviewer
03/21/2024
"Yet ANOTHER Great Sculpture"
Now have a dozen in house or gifts sculpted by Jesus and Roxanne. Easily my favorite alebreje artists. Have all the coyotes and monkeys so a domestic dog is a great change!
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Kaori
Verified Reviewer
08/14/2023
"Wonderful"
It was a very delicate and wonderful work with detailed details.
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Bert
Verified Reviewer
06/26/2023
"Love it!"
Great looking alebrije with beautiful colors!A++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Rose
Verified Reviewer
05/31/2023
"Colors Just Pop!,Colors Just Pop!"
I love goats and this one is perfect! The colors are vibrant and the carving is fantastic. I love it!,I love goats and this one is perfect! The colors are vibrant and the carving is fantastic. I love it!
Best Uses
- Decor,Decor
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Beau
Verified Reviewer
05/29/2023
"EVERY Sculpture is the BEST"
EVERY sculpture from Jesus and Roxana is THE BEST --- have well over a dozen!
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Beau
Verified Reviewer
05/29/2023
"Another GREAT Sculpture"
My VERY favorite alebrije artists..and yet another great different one.Still waiing for a coatimundi!
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"We believe that 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.' So we take on the challenge of creating innovative designs, and we experiment with different materials, some more complex than others."
Jesus and Roxana Hernandez come from a Zapotec community in Oaxaca. "In our village, most of the men and women are wood-carvers and we specialise... read more