Vintage Antique Mexican Folk Art Olinala Wood Painted Lacquer Baul Chest Village

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Vintage Antique Mexican Folk Art Olinala Wood Painted Lacquer Baul Chest Village:
$315.00

This is a rare find, beautiful, antique piece of Mexican / Spanish colonial folk art. It is a hand-made and hand-painted baul / chest from Olinala in the state of Guerrero. The indigenous artists here are Nahua. This very old piece is intricately painted on all but the back side of the chest with elegant, stylized birds, raised florals and deer and village/sun scene. The sides have another village scene with raised butterflies (mariposas). The separate wood base is hand-painted also. Deep, rich colors and aged lacquer on this piece. The person I obtained it from estimated it to be from the 1940\'s. A fabulous piece for your Mexican folk art collection or any Museum collection. It is in very good condition. It has no chips or cracks or dings and only minor ware to the painted artwork. The inside is very clean. It is large at 17\" long by 12\" tall and 10\" deep overall. The chest part when removed from its base measures 16\" x 9\" x 8\".
Lacquerware folk art comes from the states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Chiapas. In Guerrero, two towns have preserved their lacquerware traditions -- Olinala and Temalacatzingo. Olinala is famous for its production of fine chests (bauls), gourds and furniture, which are delicately and intricately painted. The bauls were often made of linaloe wood, grown in tropical Guerrero. Coffers and chests (bauls) were often intended as dowry chests used to store linens and valuables. They are richly painted and colored brightly, with intricate decoration of idealized city scenescombining cathedrals and colonial buildings against a backdrop of mountains, which reflected nearby cities such as Puebla, Taxco and Cholula with their magnificent central squares, imposing buildings and impressive basilicas. Also present could be weddings and village life,national emblems of eagle and snake, cactus or Flags, or stylized birds, animals, lakes, fish, jaguars, sun. A fabulous capsule of colonial culture.
The lacquer process in Olinala involves the use of chia oil, mixed with crushed minerals and organic colorants in the base. The paint in the artwork is made with natural pigments. To keep the piece clean, use a leather conditioner with all natural oils.
Sorry about the shipping expense, the piece is heavy at nearly 14 pounds when boxed.