OAXACAN WOOD CARVING GARDEN SNAIL - MARIA JIMENEZ - MEXICAN FOLK ART ALEBRIJE

Description

Lovely garden snail - Maria Jimenez
This beautiful snail covered with flowers, birds and butterflies was hand painted by Maria Jimenez of Oaxaca, Mexico and carved by one of her brothers. Maria has long been a trailblazer in the making of Oaxaca carvings and her unique florals motifs are easily recognized and very much loved. This charming snail is 7" long, 5 1/2" high and 3" wide and its golden tentacles are removable for safer packing.
Shipping and handling are included in the price of the figure, not an additional charge, and the carving will be sent to you through the US Post Office by Priority Mail. I will ship your carving within 24 hours of receiving payment.
Note - Applicable state taxes for internet sales will be added by ebay.
A bit of history about Oaxacan woodcarvings:
Oaxacan wood carvings, often called "alebrijes", (al-ah-bree-hayz), are a new and unique art form that originated in Oaxaca, Mexico around 40-50 years ago and are gradually becoming known and collected throughout the world. The extraordinary Disney/PIXAR movie, "COCO", which featured alebrijes, has now introduced these amazing spirit-animals to millions of people. The first alebrijes came about in the 1930's, with the Mexican paper mache artist, Pedro Linares, making figures from his dreams - and he called them "alebrijes". Then in the 1970's Manuel Jimenez, a wood carver from Oaxaca, began replicating these colorful creatures that were full of personality as carved and painted wooden figures. As the popularity of these figures spread, many other people in Manuel's village and other nearby villages began making them. Today
approximately 200 families in the Oaxaca Valley are making these fantastic wood carvings. I am honored to be one of a handful of people that have been involved with these families and offering their wonderful alebrije carvings for over 20 years.