Nocturnal Cat Hand-Painted Wood Alebrije Cat Figurine from Mexico

Taking a walk, a nocturnal little cat brings the magnificence of Mexican folk art to your home. Zeny and Reyna hand-carve this alebrije figurine of copal wood, hand-painting the black cat with vibrantly colored intricate motifs. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Alebrijes are a fairly recent Mexican art form, attributed to Pedro Linares. Unconscious due to illness in 1936, he was presumed near death and yet his dreams were extremely vivid. He tells of a place where all was peaceful and quiet until all of a sudden there appeared a lion with an eagle's head, a rooster with bull's horns and a donkey with butterfly wings. They kept screeching 'alebrije, alebrije!' and Pedro began running away. He encountered a man who told him it was not yet his time to be there are and he should continue running towards the exit. In this dream Pedro climbed out of a window and regained consciousness.

• materials: Copal wood
• Signed by the artist
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• Warning: Choking Hazard. Small parts -- not for children under 3 years.

4.4 in. H x 7.25 in. W x 1.9 in. D