Description
Overview
This is a hand-carved and painted wood figure by Leoncio Martínez of San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca, one of the Zapotec villages at the heart of Oaxacan woodcarving. Tilcajete is best known for its fantasy animals (alebrijes), and figures of everyday village people like this one are less common. A stooped grandmother (abuela) in a black rebozo leans on her walking stick, eyes closed. A companion figure by the same carver, a bearded man in a top hat, is listed separately.
Craft World Tours visited Tilcajete’s woodcarvers on the Wilsons’ 2009 “Christmas in Oaxaca” tour, on December 19, 2009, and their Oaxaca tours spanned many years. This piece is likely from the 1980s-2000s and is consistent with acquisition during those visits. It comes from the Craft World Tours Collection, assembled over four decades by Tom and Sherry Wilson.
Design & Craftsmanship
Function & Form: A standing figure, likely carved from copal wood. The removable wooden walking stick is held to her right hand by a small pin. It measures about 8″ H x 4″ W x 2.5″ D and weighs 6 oz.
Artistry & Ornamentation:
- Matte hand-painted finish.
- A black rebozo drawn over the head and shoulders, with striped, fringed ends in black and white.
- A pink blouse, and a long yellow skirt banded in green.
- Bare feet with painted toes.
- A gentle face with closed, lashed eyes, fine wrinkle lines and pink cheeks.
Structural Base: The underside is hand-lettered “LEONCIO MARTINEZ / SN. MARTIN TILCAJETE.”
Condition Report
Surface Condition:
- Light dust and small specks on the black paint.
- Small paint losses on the underside, with a wood plug mark and a fine crack line in the base.
- The painted figure itself is in good condition.
Structural Integrity: The arm is secure, and the stick is intact and removable. This item is sold “as-is” with all associated patina and wear inherent to its age and history as part of the Craft World Tours Collection.
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