This hand-carved wooden sculpture depicts a skeletal death character. Rather than presenting death as frightening, the figure reflects the distinctly Mexican tradition of confronting mortality with humor and symbolism. Mexico's most enduring tradition is the personification of death as a familiar companion woven into everyday life. Long before the modern celebration of Día de los Muertos became internationally recognized, folk artists carved skeletal saints, guardians, and figures of Death that blended Indigenous concepts of mortality with Catholic imagery introduced during the colonial period. This piece can stand freely or wall hanging.
Details
Origin: Mexico
Date: Probably c.1940 - 1960
Material: Hand-carved wood with polychrome paint
Dimensions: (add measurements)
Condition: Honest age-related wear throughout. Paint loss, abrasions, and edge wear consistent with age. Displays beautifully. Please examine all photographs carefully.
