Hand-Painted Multicolored Alebrije Statuette, "Zapotec Cat"

This stunning alebrije sculpture from Esteban Hernandez in Mexico is an excellent example of the Oaxacan folk art. Carved by hand from copal wood, the statuette is carefully hand-painted in meticulous detail.

The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930s in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his fevered dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all ran at him, shouting the nonsense word, "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream in papier mache. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache. The same style of painting can also be found on other (non-animal) items.