Tastoan or Nagual Mask by Ortega Handmade Mexican Folk Art Barro Betus Pottery

Description

This is a Medium / Large size
Fierce
Tastoan or Nagual - Shapeshifter Mask with a lizard on his nose...
this piece is all
handmade and hand painted by the
Ortega Family
in Tonala Mexico.  The Ortega family are known for their
Barro Betus Ceramica Fantastica style of Pottery.
And this piece is a great example of this
Folk Art Tradition!
It measures: 9 inches tall by 9 1/2 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches deep.
"One of Tonalá’s most important holidays is the Festival of St. James (
Fiesta de Santo Santiago
), held annually on July 25 and lasting nearly a full week. The highlights of the celebration are processions of “
tastoanes
” (also spelled
tastuanes
) led around town by an actor representing St. James himself on horseback, and accompanied by a carved image of St. James carried by the
tastoanes
. In addition, either three kings wearing clay masks or three Aztec women (one representing the Tonaltec queen
Tzapotzintli, also known as Tzuapili or Cihualpilli, and another representing a shaman)
carry an image of St. James along a parade route and leap and dance to the music of drums and traditional flutes. The
tastoanes
represent the indigenous Jaliscans. To portray them, the actors wear primitive (though sometimes protective) clothing, strong cowhide masks with fearsome expressions, and carry shields of wood and leather."
This great piece of
Mexican Folk, it is truly a whimsical piece
that will be sure to please.
The Ortega family has been working in barro betus for generations. Also called Cerámica Fantástica (Fantastic Ceramics) because of the bright colors used, barro betus gets its name from the oil bath it receives in aceite de betus (oil of betus - a resin extracted from the pine tree) before it is fired.
Santa Cruz de las Huertas, a suburb of Tonalá is known as the main producers of barro betus. Subject matter you will find ranges from roosters, coyotes, owls, figures to Trees of Life - all made with a whimsical sense of fun and bright colors.
The Ortega family is well known for his Arboles de la Vida (Trees of Life). This generation of artists were taught by their father, Eleuterio Ortega Hernandez, and his grandmother, Natividad Hernandez. Gerardo is the 4th. generation to work with barro betus.
Their grandparents worked in the fields in the planting and harvesting seasons and in their spare time were engaged in developing their art. Gerardo's grandmother designed pieces such as roosters, animals, candlesticks, chests of animals and fruits, covered with nahuales (a human being who has the power to magically turn him- or herself into an animal form, most commonly donkey, turkey and dogs, but also other and more powerful animals) bodies and surrealistic figures. The origin of barro betus dates back to colonial times and is surrounded by myths. The most popular pieces of art are the colorful Nahual figures with the reputation of coming from a magical world.
The process begins with "tortillando" or kneading the clay into unique shapes. The kiln is readied and fires pieces created several days before. Before firing, the clay is black. The pieces have to be dried in the open air before baking them or they will explode. The firing is done at a very low temperature compared to other types of ceramics. Each figure is rubbed with birch oil just before firing, giving them a lacquered appearance once finished. Kilns are simple brick holes covered with old tiles.
The village of Santa Cruz de las Huertas, Jalisco is the only village that makes barro betus which is one of the seven traditional ceramic techniques that Tonalá has become famous for.
Please take a look at my Ebay Store for more Mexican Folk Art, Hand Made Clothing and Jewelry.  VIVA MEXICO!!