hand carved wooden cats

Taking a walk, a nocturnal little cat brings the magnificence of Mexican folk art to your home. Zeny and Reyna hand-carve this alebrije figurine of copal wood, hand-painting the black cat with vibrantly colored intricate motifs. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Alebrijes are a fairly recent Mexican art form, attributed to Pedro Linares. Unconscious due to illness in 1936, he was presumed near death and yet his dreams were extremely vivid. He tells of a place where all was peaceful and quiet until all of a sudden there appeared a lion with an eagle's head, a rooster with bull's horns and a donkey with butterfly wings. They kept screeching "alebrije, alebrije!" and Pedro began running away. He encountered a man who told him it was not yet his time to be there are and he should continue running towards the exit. In this dream Pedro climbed out of a window and regained consciousness.

Unleash the magic of Christmas with this irresistible set of four hand-painted cat ornaments meticulously carved from albesia wood. Brimming with intricate details and vivid hues, Balinese artisan Komang Sulaksana’s cute feline figures breathe new life into your holiday decor.

Hand-carved from rich mango wood by India’s talented Mela Artisans, this set of three candle holders showcases a beautiful whitewashed finish that catches the eye. The white and natural color accents dance together in perfect harmony, bringing shabby chic charm to any room. Transform your surroundings with the unique appeal of these handcrafted accessories.

Artisans Jesus and Roxana Hernandez in Mexico create this wonderful sculpture in the Oaxacan folk art tradition of alebrijes. The figurine is carved by hand from copal wood in the form of a stretching cat, and then carefully hand painted with a dizzying array of motifs. Small parts may be separated for safe shipping.

The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's 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.

Fangs bared, this small jaguar sculpture from Gerardo and Teresa Ojeda in Mexico makes a big impression. Carved from soft copal wood, the alebrije is beautifully painted by hand.

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

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.