83:
202:, both in Puebla, and most are made with commercial intent. In the old days, these were a traditional gift for newlyweds as a symbol of fertility and abundance. The craft is best preserved in Metepec, where craftsmen have received orders from countries such as China, Japan, France, Italy and Germany with a large number going to Spain. The best known potters in Metepec include Archundia, Tito Reyes, Modesta Fernandez, Macario Garduno, Paz Lopez, Claudio Tapia, Timoteo Gonzalez, Celso Rodriguez, Jose Sanchez de Leon, Lazaro and Manuel Leon. The government of the municipality of Metepec has sponsored courses in pottery and ceramics to keep the tradition alive.
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but most pieces are from Mexico State. There are categories for unfired pieces, pieces fired at low temperatures, pieces fired at high temperatures and glazed pieces. Each year representatives from the various indigenous communities of Mexico gather to form a human “Tree of Life.” In 2006, 500 people
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However, the craft has been waning and may be in danger of extinction. On
Comonfort Street in Metepec there are dozens of pottery workshops but only two of these remain making the trees. One major reason for this is cheap imitations, mostly imported from Asia. This has been a problem for many Mexican
155:
The trees are made from clay fired in gas ovens at a low temperature. Most trees are from between 26 and 60 cm in height and can take anywhere from two weeks to three months to create. Extremely large pieces can take up to three years. These trees vary in size from miniatures to gigantic public
110:
During most of the colonial period, ceramics in Mexico State were mostly produced for self consumption. Ceramics became a fusion of
Spanish and indigenous techniques and designs. It remained so until the first half of the 20th century, when decorative and even luxurious pieces began to be produced.
275:
However, other projects with similar ambitions, such as the
Explanada Artesanal, have not experienced much success. The Explanada is dirty, lacks lighting and lacks visitors despite the authentic wares sold here. It is located on Hidalgo Street in Metepec with 95 stands that sell clay and ceramic
164:
is one of the few potters who will make arboles with themes completely unrelated to the Garden of Eden. Many of these represent the history of a famous person or place and are custom-ordered. His works have appeared in temporary and permanent collections in countries such as
Scotland, the United
135:
The most traditional of the trees of life contains a number of vital images. At the top of the sculpture, an image of God is placed. Underneath are images relation with the creation of the world in seven days, such as the sun and moon, the animals and Adam and Eve. The serpent from the
Biblical
114:
The construction of clay tree sculptures with the
Biblical theme of the Garden of Eden began in Izucar de Matamoros in Puebla State and spread to other areas, particularly to Metepec, Mexico State, which distinguished their trees by painting them in bright colors. The tree sculptures have become
107:, friars destroyed articles, including ceramics, that depicted the old gods, and replaced them with images of saints and other Christian iconography. The depiction of a “tree of life” in paintings and other mediums was introduced as a way to evangelize Biblical stories to the native population.
99:
influence brought religious symbolism to many ceramic wares. From then on, Matlatzinca pottery in what is now Mexico State continued to develop with multiple influences since it was in a strategic position between the Valley of Mexico and what are now the states of
Morelos and Guerrero.
156:
sculptures. Many trees have unique themes but the most common is the duality of life and death and the relationship of man with the natural world. Most trees are created and sold by artisans who have learned how to make them from their parents and grandparents.
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crafts made in the municipality. Because of the lack of visitors, many of these stands are only open on the weekends. Vendors state that the problem is that the municipality does not support the park, by not providing services and by not promoting it.
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The creation of Trees of Life is part of the pottery and ceramic traditions of central highlands of Mexico. Pottery in this area can be traced back to between 1800 and 1300 B.C. including clay figures. The painting of these figures begins later after
227:
There is a national ceramics prize called the
Concurso Nacional de Alfareria y Ceramica “Arbol de la Vida” presented each year by the municipality but entrants are not limited to trees of life. Pieces from various places in Mexico, such as
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Variations on the craft have appeared in recent decades. Many will have themes such as the duality of life and death, and the relationship of man with the natural world, but these often keep essential elements such as Adam and Eve.
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emblematic of this municipality, and are part of a clay sculpture tradition found only here. Other common clay sculptures include mermaids (with a giant one in a section of town called Ciudad Tipica) as well as
Pegasus,
148:. The trees are made primarily for religious and decorative use. Those that contain incense burners are more likely to be use religiously. In Izucar de Matamoros, these trees appear in processions such as those for
206:
crafts, with the federal government stepping in to develop trademarks and “denomination of origin” for traditional crafts. In 2009, the Tree of Life was trademarked for artisans from
Metepec and neighboring
210:, befitting the approximately 300 families that dedicate themselves to making them. In addition to authenticity, there are plans to use the trademark to promote the product internationally.
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51:. Originally the sculptures depicted the Biblical story of creation, as an aid for teaching it to natives in the early colonial period. The fashioning of the trees in a
111:
This type of work is typified by the tree of life, especially those that are not religious in function. These non-religious trees have themes such as death or spring.
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from 63 different ethnic groups came to make the human pyramid, dress in native wear and calling for peace in the world. Some of the peoples represented include
593:
Espinosa, Arturo (2002-05-23). "Galardonan creatividad artesanal" [Showing off craftsmen’s creativity] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Reforma. p. 18.
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but today the craft is most closely identified with Metepec. Traditionally, these sculptures are supposed to consist of certain biblical images, such as
915:
493:
1038:
529:
Valdespino, Martha (2001-06-22). "Acusan al Ayuntamiento de olvidar parque artesanal" [Accuse the city of forgetting a crafts park].
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States, Canada, Italy and France. However, purists insist that those that do not relate to the Garden of Eden are not true Trees of Life.
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Gonzalez, Maria de la Luz (1996-07-16). "Representa en barro historias y leyendas" [Stories and legends represented in clay].
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Cordero, Patricia (2006-03-20). "Inyectan savia a arbol etnico" [Inject wisdom into an ethnic "tree"].
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460:[Trees of Life "multicolored clay"] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Artes Mexico magazine. Archived from
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Valdespino, Martha (2001-07-24). "Perdura su estilo ancestral" [Loss of ancestral style].
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The tree is assembled while soft unfired clay from a large number of pieces formed separately.
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The craft is made in three principal areas: Metepec, Mexico State, Izucar de Matamoros, and
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According to Juan José Rodríguez, the tree of life appears on the cover of the
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sculpture traditional in central Mexico, especially in the municipality of
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Traditional tree of life at National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.
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548:(in Spanish). Mexico City. Agencia el Universal. 2010-01-22.
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Museo Universitario de Artes Populares María Teresa Pomar
144:. Overall, the tree sculpture looks something like a
946:
National Fund for the Development of Arts and Crafts
316:"Las manos mágicas en el barro del árbol de la vida"
131:
Large outdoor sculpture in Metepec with Adam and Eve
630:
544:"Cultura-Artesanías" [Culture-Handcrafts].
140:at the bottom, who casts out Adam and Eve from the
1162:
916:Museo de la Laca and the Santo Domingo monastery
322:(in Spanish). Cuernavaca, Mexico. Archived from
95:influence arrived in the area. Around 800 A.D.
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458:"Los árboles de la vida "Barro policromado""
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348:
346:
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220:sculpture by Oscar Sotano on display at the
456:Tlakuiloani, Nemiliz; Manuel Sánchez Cruz.
419:"El árbol de la vida, en peligro de muerte"
336:Magic hands in the clay of the Tree of Life
936:Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
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609:
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581:The Tree of Life is a registered trademark
561:"El Árbol de la Vida. Es marca registrada"
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494:"Los Árboles de la Vida recorren el mundo"
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567:(in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from
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514:The Tree of Life travels around the world
500:(in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from
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425:(in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from
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222:Museum de Artes Populares in Mexico City
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926:Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca
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533:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 23.
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399:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 10.
381:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 15.
359:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 23.
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519:
403:
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298:
181:
171:Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1130:Traditional Mexican handcrafted toys
439:The Tree of Life, in danger of death
385:
1181:Cultural depictions of Adam and Eve
1125:Traditional metal working in Mexico
559:Rodríguez, Juan José (2008-01-23).
417:Rodríguez, Juan José (2008-06-29).
13:
14:
1192:
1120:Traditional copper work in Mexico
492:Olguín, Rosa María (2006-05-30).
136:story also appears, as does the
702:Textiles and other fiber crafts
678:Green glazed pottery of Atzompa
632:Mexican handcrafts and folk art
27:in Mexico City, by Oscar Soteno
951:National Museum of Mexican Art
314:Ávila, Wilfrido (2008-12-08).
122:
1:
1080:Mexican handcrafted fireworks
956:National Pyrotechnic Festival
291:
987:Handcrafts by federal entity
961:Palm Sunday Handcraft Market
931:Museo Nacional de la Máscara
7:
906:Mexico City Alebrije Parade
853:Tenancingo, State of Mexico
279:
119:, lions, flowers and more.
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1140:Votive paintings of Mexico
921:Museo de Trajes Regionales
1085:Mexican ironwood carvings
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969:
881:
798:
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701:
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162:Tiburcio Soteno Fernandez
978:List of Mexican artisans
901:Feria Maestros del Arte
673:Blanco family (Oaxaca)
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195:
132:
87:
40:
28:
1095:Mexican mask-folk art
911:Museo de Arte Popular
826:Santa Clara del Cobre
811:San Bartolo Coyotepec
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189:
130:
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25:Museo de Arte Popular
22:
1100:Mexican pointy boots
816:San Martín Tilcajete
571:on February 23, 2010
320:El Sol de Cuernavaca
286:Adrián Luis González
78:Origins of the craft
23:Tree of life at the
1090:Mexican lacquerware
1075:Mexican featherwork
1065:Alfeñique in Mexico
858:Teotitlán del Valle
843:Santo Tomás Jalieza
838:Santa María Atzompa
785:Miss Lupita project
668:Barro negro pottery
651:Ceramics of Jalisco
498:Noticieros Televisa
57:Izúcar de Matamoros
55:sculpture began in
1145:María Teresa Pomar
806:Ocotlán de Morelos
754:Textiles of Oaxaca
749:Textiles of Mexico
744:Tenango embroidery
714:Basketry of Mexico
683:Mata Ortiz pottery
656:Pottery of Metepec
225:
196:
182:State of the craft
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88:
29:
1158:
1157:
882:Organizations and
639:Clay and ceramics
464:on March 23, 2012
138:Archangel Gabriel
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896:Ciudadela Market
724:Mexican rag doll
688:Talavera pottery
646:Mexican ceramics
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192:Talavera pottery
105:Spanish conquest
41:Árbol de la vida
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1171:Mexican pottery
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1039:State of Mexico
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873:Tonalá, Jalisco
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709:Amuzgo textiles
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504:on June 5, 2011
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49:State of Mexico
45:Mexican pottery
43:) is a type of
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1053:Related topics
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142:Garden of Eden
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1110:Popotillo art
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661:Soteno family
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429:on 2011-06-05
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16:Type of craft
831:Punzo family
799:Crafts towns
780:Lupita dolls
734:Quechquemitl
693:Tree of Life
692:
588:
580:
573:. Retrieved
569:the original
564:
554:
546:El Universal
545:
539:
530:
513:
506:. Retrieved
502:the original
497:
466:. Retrieved
462:the original
438:
431:. Retrieved
427:the original
423:El Universal
422:
396:
378:
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328:. Retrieved
324:the original
319:
274:
226:
218:Tree of Life
217:
204:
197:
169:
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158:
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134:
113:
109:
102:
89:
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65:Adam and Eve
33:Tree of Life
32:
30:
1150:Marta Turok
1070:Huichol art
1019:Mexico City
868:Tlaquepaque
863:Tlalpujahua
821:San Pablito
176:The Beatles
123:Description
97:Teotihuacan
1165:Categories
999:Guanajuato
775:Cartonería
292:References
263:Tarahumara
238:Guanajuato
190:Tree with
146:candelabra
103:After the
53:terracotta
1176:Figurines
1024:Michoacán
884:festivals
266:Huicholes
251:Purépecha
174:album by
1060:Alebrije
1044:Tlaxcala
1004:Guerrero
970:Artisans
575:March 5,
508:March 5,
468:March 5,
433:March 5,
330:March 5,
280:See also
247:Huastecs
243:Zapotecs
208:Calimaya
117:roosters
1105:Piteado
1014:Jalisco
1009:Hidalgo
994:Chiapas
848:Temoaya
565:Milenio
531:Reforma
397:Reforma
379:Reforma
357:Reforma
234:Jalisco
200:Acatlan
37:Spanish
1135:Vochol
1034:Puebla
1029:Oaxaca
790:Piñata
739:Rebozo
729:Petate
719:Huipil
270:Yaquis
230:Oaxaca
61:Puebla
770:Amate
763:Paper
259:Otomi
194:theme
93:Olmec
69:Bible
976:see
577:2010
510:2010
470:2010
435:2010
332:2010
268:and
255:Maya
236:and
1167::
579:.
563:.
521:^
512:.
496:.
478:^
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437:.
421:.
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300:^
272:.
261:,
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245:,
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178:.
152:.
71:.
59:,
39::
31:A
624:e
617:t
610:v
472:.
35:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
