Tastoan Leather Demon Mask Handmade by Arnulfo Vazquez Tonala Mexican Folk Art

Description

This is a Large size
Fierce
Tastoan or Nagual - Shapeshifter Leather Mask with a lizard on his nose...
this piece is all
handmade and hand painted by
Arnulfo Vazquez Rodriguez
of Tonala Mexico.  This piece is a great example of the Tastoan Folk Art Tradition!
It measures: 10 inches tall by 8 inches wide and 9 1/2 inches deep.
"
Arnulfo is son to the famous Salvador Vasquez. He has worked under the supervision of his father since he was a young boy. Today, Arnulfo is considered one of the important artists working in Tonala. He is one of the leaders in the preservation of the traditional Barro Bruñido craft and spends time teaching young people who will carry on this tradition which is so important to Tonalá. Arnulfo's son is now a talented working artist as well."
Arnulfo also belongs to an august group of potters who call them selves
Grupo Herencia Milenaria
. They have a
lovely
museum on the outskirts of Tonala and are
devoted to the
conservation and promotion their ancestral tradition Tonaltecan Ceramic craft.
"One of Tonalá’s most important holidays is the Festival of St. James (
Fiesta de Santo Santiago
), held annually on July 25 and lasting nearly a full week. The highlights of the celebration are processions of “
tastoanes
” (also spelled
tastuanes
) led around town by an actor representing St. James himself on horseback, and accompanied by a carved image of St. James carried by the
tastoanes
. In addition, either three kings wearing clay masks or three Aztec women (one representing the Tonaltec queen
Tzapotzintli, also known as Tzuapili or Cihualpilli, and another representing a shaman)
carry an image of St. James along a parade route and leap and dance to the music of drums and traditional flutes. The
tastoanes
represent the indigenous Jaliscans. To portray them, the actors wear primitive (though sometimes protective) clothing, strong cowhide masks with fearsome expressions, and carry shields of wood and leather."
This great piece of
Mexican Folk, it is Great Collector Quality piece
that will be sure to please.
Please take a look at my Ebay Store for more Mexican Folk Art, Hand Made Clothing and Jewelry.  VIVA MEXICO!!