playful art

A playful hummingbird seeks out the sweet nectar of flowers in an alebrije sculpture designed to hang from the ceiling. Zeny and Reyna transform found pieces of copal wood into a delightful alebrije. These fanciful sculptures are a traditional folk art in Oaxaca, once based on twenty totems but today representing all kinds of animals. They take their name from a Calo gypsy word for "something difficult, tangled, confusing or fantastic."

Includes a thread for hanging.

Because each alebrije is individually created work of folk art, shapes will vary slightly. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

With paws outstretched, a quirk of her striped tail, and a sweet expression on her face, this curious cat alebrije wood figurine is certain to capture your heart. Handcrafted from copal wood by Mexican artisans Pablo and Lucy Mendez, the little cat is hand-painted shades of green with black and gold accents. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

As alebrije artisans interpret the natural curves of each copal branch to help determine the final design, each alebrije sculpture can have unique variations.

Playful and flexible, otters represent the joyous nature of the rivers with their unique personalities, inspiring Alejandro and Rocio Jimenez from Mexico to adapt them to the traditional alebrije style. Using a refreshing palette of mint and purple hues, this cute copal wood otter figurine has a geometric pattern all over its body, creating a captivating accent for your home decor.