NOVICA Artisan Handmade Papier Mache Alebrije Sculpture Unique Butterfly from Mexico Multicolor Painted Halloween Day of The Dead Bug Butterflybutterfly [6.75in H x 7.75in W x 10.25in D] ' Colorful

Novica works together with talented artists, artisans, and designers around the world to produce stunning, keepsake handmade treasures.About this item: This fantastical papier mache alebrije sculpture is crafted by Marina Lozano in Mexico. The artisan creates her unique version of a butterfly, with an unusual splayed tail and lizard-like head. The creature is painted by hand in bright colors and varied patterns.The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his fevered dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all shouted "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache. Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightlyAbout our Artist: I am Marina Lozano, an artisan in papier mache. I began to be passionate about this art when I was 16 years old. It was a point at which I left school due to my low marks in mathematics. It was my father who, as a result of seeing me plunged into depression, encouraged me to study something that would restore my creativity and increase my hope and security. He took me to workshops on sculpture, painting, wood carving and of course paper arts. It was precisely in that resurgence stage that I learned how important human creativity is; and I fell in love with the flexibility of paper. I learned papier mache with the teacher Alberto Riano in Mexico City; and in Cortazar, Guanajuato I learned the traditional papier mache with the teacher Clisterio Sanjuanico. Now that I teach, I understand the openness that you must have for each person. I started making pinatas, a very well-known technique in Mexico.

• Size: 6.75 in. H x 7.75 in. W x 10.25 in. D
• Handmade by Novica artisans using time-honored traditional methods
• Includes an official card certifying the item is authentic, artisan crafted and of exceptional quality
• Quality craftsmanship: Novica works with artisan Marina Lozano to craft this item
• Product info: Papier mache