The Alfarería (ceramic) traditions featured in our collection are thousands of years old and produced as individual pieces or in small batches, as opposed to being mass-produced.

Artisans who specialize in ceramics in Mexico are called Alfareros. Examples of these ancient Alfarería traditions are found in indigenous communities and archaeological ruins that predate the Olmec and Aztec empires in Mexico.

Barro (pronounced BAR-OH) typically refers to un-glazed ceramics that may or may not be painted with a fine clay mixture called an “engobi”. Engobi’s can reflect color differences, but mainly serve to smooth out the finish.

The barro in our collection is produced by indigenous Zapotec Alfareros in Atzompa and San Bartolo Coyotepec, as well as the Mixteca and Mixe regions. It consists of black, brown and red types.

We also work with Alfareros who produce the famous green glazed ceramics of Atzompa and the black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec. The black barro is not a type of clay, but rather a treatment of the clay. Because the black barro of San Bartolo is treated with solvents, we do not carry pieces used for the consumption of food or drink. Similarly, we offer the green, lead glazed pottery of Atzompa for decorative purposes only.

None of the barro we offer for the consumption of food and drink features lead glazes.

We highly recommend unglazed red and brown barro for consumption of Mezcal, chocolate, and coffee because it adds flavor depth and a higher level of enjoyment.

Natural Dyes

All of the textiles and clothing offered by Tonalli Art & Imports are dyed with natural materials such as Anil/Indigo, Cochineal (a tiny insect), Paricon/marigold, Bujuco (moss), native Oaxaca trees such as Campeich, and Madrone Wood. Because they are natural, they will fade over time and especially when exposed to repeated washings and/or sunlight for prolonged periods.

Wool / Lana

The artisans that make our wool textiles / textiles de lana are all Zapotecos from Teotitlan de Valle, or Mixes from the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. Weavers from these regions are not just craftspeople who make textiles. They are indigenous peoples whose identity is not separate from their craft. Their ancestral origins are told in the designs of the textiles and each piece is a guardian and a storyteller of their ancestry and cosmology, which is many thousands of years old.

When you purchase one of these works, you also become a guardian of this heritage.

Tonalli artisans make our natural textiles in four stages:

1. The thread is handspun from cotton (tela), wool (lana), silk (seda), or Linen (lino).

2. It is then woven on hand or peddle looms.

3. Then it is dyed, often with natural colors from insects, barks, and plants.

4. The textile is hand or machine sewn.

Cotton / Algodon / Linen

Cotton and linen textiles have diffferent names depending on function but cotton fabric is called, “Tela”. This is also the name used for canvases.

All Tela used in Tonalli artesania is handwoven woven on peddle or handlooms in communities where this tradition is ancient.

Seda

All Tonalli silks are handmade. Our artisans keep silk worms and spin silk thread then weave it on hand and peddle looms in weaving communities like Teotitlan de Valle.

Masks play an enormous role in Mexican history and culture. In the southern Mexican states they are used for almost every celebration and the wearers believe they become the entity that the mask symbolizes.

Wood masks are most often used for spiritual celebrations and rituals, while paper mache masks are utilized more often for celebrations that are less serious, and that make fun of serious themes, in particular religious ones.

For instance, paper mache devil masks created by our artisans do not represent evil, rather, they represent fun mischief and he unreliable nature of life. A devil mask wearer will be animated, funny, and somewhat disruptive in whatever celebration they are participating.

Hojalata (pronounced OH-HA-LATA) is a work made from thin sheets of tin that have been shaped, stamped, and/or engraved.

Hojalateros (tinworkers), are typically generational craftspeople utilizing ancient methods and tools to create lamps, mirrors, picture frames, ornaments, boxes and sometimes larger works such as altars, architectural installations, and large sculpture.

Our Hojalateros are members of families and communities engaged in Hojalatería since its inception in the 16th Century in Mexico.

There are lots of Spanish names for distinctive Mexican clothing but a few categories bear mentioning in more detail.

• Huipiles (pronounced WEE-PEE-LAY) - These are dresses that represent different indigenous tribes and pueblos in their styles and embellishments. Most often a symbol of the indigenous group or pueblo is woven into the fabric to create a distinctive design or texture. This is often accompanied by ornate hand embroidery. It takes a seamstress (Costurera) a week or more to create one of these treasures.

• Rebozos / Shawls - All our rebozos are woven on hand looms from cotton or wool and the fringe is hand crocheted. A rebozo handwoven from the Mixe region (pictured to the right), takes 90 days to produce.

• Mixe Clothing - The mixe indigenous group has very distinctive and beautiful embroidered designs they use with high quality cotton and wool fabrics. Additionally, they have an unusual and flattering clothing styles. Their designs symbolize the mountains they call home, along with stars, and sometimes agave. Their designs are so compelling that certain international clothing designers have tried to reproduce them unlawfully.

Mexico’s tradition of handwoven basketry and figurines is ancient and predates the Spanish conquest.

In the northern states baskets and woven figures tend to be made from tree branches and grasses, while in the southern states palm leaves are predominantly used.

In the southern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero and Veracruz baskets are very intricate and come in every size and shape imaginable.

Additionally, there is a strong tradition of miniaturized woven figurines that represent daily life. Tonalli carries some of these treasures.

Mexican’s deal with deal head-on and as a part of living, unlike some cultures which try and separate life and death and avoid it.

Because death is a part of life here, there is a lot of celebratory symbolism around it. The most iconic representation is the painted skull associated with Dia de Los Muertos. It comes in many forms, from clay to sugar, but all have distinctive design details. Typically these include flowers and leaves which reflect the human form as part of nature.

Similarly, hearts are symbolized in almost every art and artisania form in the country.

Skeletons alone or engaged in daily tasks and events are called, “Calaveras” and are found in claywork, wood carvings, tinwork, ramas, and both fine art and pop art.

Tonalli carries a selection of the most detailed and high quality treasures available.

Alebrije is a style of painting, rather than an object. However, the term has become somewhat synonymous with Oaxacan fantastical wood figures because they are painted in this style. Other objects painted in alebrije include ceramics, tinwork and more. It is typically bright and uses lots of stylized flowers, leaves, birds and hearts.

Wooden alebrije figures are considered collector’s items. They are often animal forms, depicting a combination of features that are fantastical or magical such as winged cats.

The origin of these figures is often thought to be Mexico City cerca the 1940’s, but there are families in Oaxaca who have been making them longer than they can remember.

It is likely that indigenous people began making these for children as toys, centuries ago.

A famous Alebrije artisano was the late Manuel Jiminez from Arrazola Oaxaca, who began selling them in the open market in the 1920’s.