Alebrijes de Oaxaca
Alebrijes are Zapotec copal wood figures whose original name is “Tonas” or “Nahuales”.
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In the Zapotec region, San Martin Tilcajete in Oaxaca, each alebrije is hand painted with symbolic details of the ancient Zapotec cosmovision and are usually inspired by iconic animals or a hybrid version of them.
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From the wood carving, to drying and finishing details, the crafting of each piece can take up to 15 months.
Copal
Copal wood is the foundation for our Alebrijes. It is considered sacred for ritual uses and ceremonies, where the copal is planted, harvested and transformed into a Tonal or Nahual shape.
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Our priority is to develop an honest business chain with workshops, artists and artisans, in order for them to continue developing their craft and sustainably create Alebrijes out of their raw material, the copal tree.
