Older Mexican Folk Art Carved Deer Alebrije in the Manner of Manuel Jimenez street drawings with its gold leafed wood

with its gold leafed wood body and bronze head and feet

made of walnut I believe

very much aligned with the ex voto retablos I love so much

I believe the animal depicted on the lid of this beautiful presumed Japanese lacquer box is a Shi-shi or Shisa dog-- a creature resembling a cross between a lion and a dog that derives from Okinawan mythology and is perceived to be a ward protecting from evils

Older Mexican Folk Art Carved Deer Alebrije in the Manner of Manuel Jimenez street drawings with its gold leafed woodOlder Mexican folk art animals alebrije like this one have become harder and harder to find no great wonder, as I'm not the only one who finds them super charming! From what I understand, these became popular tourist items in Oaxaca the 1940's with the construction of the Pan American Highway, with Manuel Jimenez best known for creating animals in this manner. This wonderful spotted deer with antlers is unsigned, but appears to be an old one, I'd