Animals of Oaxaca – Vintage Oaxacan Wood Carving

Early Colors and Shapes of Oaxacan Wood Carving

The state of Oaxaca in Mexico, known as a treasure trove of handicrafts. In the mid-20th century, a man began creating wooden animals that caught the early attention of mid-century designer Alexander Girard.

Oaxacan wood carvings have now become representative crafts of Mexico, but the early pieces featured rough carvings made with a machete, limbs and tails simply nailed on, and the uniquely faded colors of aniline dyes, all contributing to a charm that was beloved by many artisans in Japan as well.

This book introduces 130 animal figures, including collections by Shoji Hamada, Seiichi Horiuchi, Samiro Yunoki, Sori Yanagi, and Noriyuki Yamamoto.