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Mexican Art Talavera Pottery Tehuantepec Woman Catrina Figure Day of Dead 13"

$ 60.72

Availability: 56 in stock
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Occasion: Day of the Dead
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days
  • Handmade: Yes
  • Culture: Mexican
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: Mexico
  • Condition: New
  • Modified Item: No
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted

    Description

    This amazing talavera pottery piece is from Mexico and is in the form of a Tehuana / woman / catrina.  It has tons of formed and hand-painted detail, with her flowered gown, traditional lace headdress and her basket of flags.  She is wearing possibly one of the most fascinating, recognizable and iconic traditional dresses in the world.. the huipil grande from the Istmo of Tehuantepec, Mexico.. also known as "Resplandor" meaning "Radiant" in Spanish.  She measures 13 x 7 1/2 x 4 1/2".  A collector's piece for sure.
    History of the Huipil Grande (Resplandor):   The headdress construction is based on a womans blouse with non-functioning sleeves.  Made famous in two of Frida Kahlo's paintings, one being the self portrait as a Tehuana (Diego on My Mind).  The headdress of the traditional outfit is made from a combination of pleated and starched white lace and satin ribbon.  It is worn in one of two ways...  1) Toca where it hugs the face line.. normally worn in religious events at a church and 2) Traje de Gala where it fans out over the top of the head and behind the back creating a sunray effect..normally worn in civil festivals.   The story behind its shape as a blouse with non functioning sleeves is based on an early accounting in 1524 when the Spa
    nish conquistador
    Pedro de Alavarado and his troops arrived in Tehuantepec and soon began enforcing Catholicism and churches were erected. Native women who had only worn wrap skirts until that time were strictly instructed to cover their exposed breasts before entering God's house.
    One theory tells the tale of how a ship from Europe sunk off the coast of Tehuantepec and a cargo of white lace blouses washed up on shore. No knowing what they were the women put them on over their heads incorrectly, but the trend stuck to resemble the headdress of today.