Alebrije retailer Crab From San Martin Tilcajete Handcrafted by Dionisio Angeles Ojeda

retailer A colorful Alebrije crab handcrafted and hand painted by Dionisio Angeles Ojeda. This little crab has an orange shell with colors of blue, purple, yellow, green, light lavender and white. Her eight legs have light blue and pink stripes painted over teal. She has an expressive face with bright eyes and long eyelashes. The artist added his signature and address on the belly. A delightful addition to any collection.

Alebrijes are mystical creatures that have been transformed over decades into Mexican folk art sculptures.

The origin of the Alebrijes can be traced to Pedro Linares, an artist who lived in Mexico City in the 1930s. Linares said that in 1936 he was very ill and then became unconscious. While in a state of unconsciousness, he began to hallucinate and see visions of a forest with strange animals.

Alebrije sculptures started to be crafted mostly out of a wood called copal, which is found in the Oaxaca Valley and believed to be magical as well.

Measurements: 2" height, 5 1/2" width, 6" length