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MEXICO ARTS AND CRAFTS
Calaveras y Judas
Skeletons, Skulls and Judas
for the Day of the Dead
see more Cardboard examples - Alebrijes

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It is hard to imagine, but all the characters on this page are made of Cardboard, a technique introduced into Mexico during the Eighteenth Century. These typical Skeleton, Skulls and Judas figures were originally fabricated with a ritual meaning, which they still have, though they have evolved today into decorative art items.
Distrito Federal, .23kg, 26x33cm, $20USD

Calaveras y Judas - Skulls and Judas
D.F., .6kg, 70x26.5cm, $56USD

Calaveras y Judas - Skulls and Judas
Distrito Federal, .3kg, 35x12cm, $37USD, Each,
Prod. 7/mo.

Calaveras y Judas - Skulls and Judas
Distrito Federal, 1kg, 51x40cm, $56USD

Calaveras y Judas - Skulls and Judas

Judas figures, representing the disciple who betrayed Jesus (but sometimes designed to caricature politicians!), were until recently burned on Holy Saturday; and Skulls and Skeletons originally were made to commemorate the Day of the Dead, the Mexican equivalent of Cemetary Day though with the pageantry of Carnival.

The theme of Death is constantly present in Mexican arts and is represented in all crafts and in a myriad of materials from candy and bread to paper and tin to sculpture and wood. With great sense of humor, artisans make Death come 'alive', and they 'dress' it in all sorts of unique and humorous ways. Death, in the Mexican arts, seems to remind us, in a very democratic manner, that when we die we are all equal.

Incidentally, Holy Saturday is before Easter Sunday; and Day of the Dead is in November.

D.F., 2.5kg, 123x40cm, $93USD

Calaveras y Judas - Skulls and Judas
Distrito Federal, 2.5kg, 102x40cm, $93USD

Calaveras y Judas - Skulls and Judas
Distrito Federal, .3kg, 35x12cm, $37USD, Each

Calaveras y Judas - Skulls and Judas
If you have an interest in Day of the Dead and Judas objects, E-mail us. Day of the Dead items are some of the most imaginative crafts in Mexico; they are available all year though their production peaks in October and November.

If you do not see it, ask us, impossible to show everything. Thank you for visiting our web pages and if you do come to Saltillo, please visit us at our very nice Hotel Hacienda Rancho El Morillo.

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