Mexican Toy depicting El Domador de Fieras (Lion Tamer)
by Guillermo Trejo Soiano and Sanjuana España Rodríguez
Guanajuato, México
wood, pigment
7.5” high x 8.75” wide x 4.5” deep
Master artisans Guillermo Trejo Soriano (Guanajuato, México) and wife Sanjuana España Rodríguez are well known for hand crafting Mexican traditional toys. Sanjuana's late father was a master of this beautiful toy craft tradition, and taught his daughter and son in law his pursuit for toy-crafting.
Known for their colorful ludic appearance, these interactive toys represent the Mexican culture and bring nostalgia of past childhood. To play with each piece, you have to turn the handle to see what is going to happen. These hand crafted wood sculptures are hand-painted with acrylic paint.
This wonderful toy depicts a funeral procession leaving the church and heading straight to hell. Obviously the deceased did not live a life devoid of sin!
Humor in Mexican folk art is a vibrant, ironic, and often satirical expression deeply rooted in pre-Columbian traditions and often masks the fear of death by mocking it. Common forms include calaveras (skeletons) or diablos (devils) in daily scenes, satirical retablos (saint paintings), and carved wooden animals with mischievous,, human-like grins.
