Shop HOME Wish List Shopping Bag Latest Acquisitions
Textiles
Masks
Santos
Jewelry
Majolica
Miscellaneous

BreadcrumbsMasksBreadcrumbsMexicanos

Overseer with brown eyes
$450

20_4_az_1
Cerrar
Product

Alternate images
  • 20_4_az_1
  • 20_4_az_3
  • 20_4_az_5
  • 20_4_az_4
  • 20_4_az_2
  • 20_4_az_6
  • 20_4_az_7

The Dance of the Mexicanos is a variation of the Serpent Dance, a fertility ritual banned by the Catholic Church because of its sexual orientation. The costumes used by the dancers have Mexican flags allover, because the serpent on the Mexican national emblem remembers, in a very diplomatic way, the Serpent Dance. The dancers wear “Charro” clothes, big silver guns and huge Mexican hats. Brunette skin, extraordinary thick sideburns, curly hair and wide moustache carvings portray the typical Mexican character. This specific character represents the Overseer or “Capataz”, his role during the dance is to keep the “Mexicanos” working. In that time, black men who earned freedom had a higher social status than Indigenous people; they were hired as Overseers. Brown glass eyes are highlighted by delicate golden painted eyelashes and eyebrows. This mask used to be a “Conquistador”, because of the beautiful flower decorations on his head. Then he was painted black and converted into a Negrito to complete a missing character of the Dance by the Morería Owners. The great backside patina denotes use. Please notice that the price includes FREE USPS Shipping.

Map
Age: Approximately carved in the 1950’s.
Ethnic Group: K’iché
Origin: Santa Cruz del Quiché
Materials: Wood
Use: Dance of the Mexicanos
Technique: hand carved at a Morería
Size: Approximately 6” x 5” x 7”
Customer Service Separator Contact Us Separator What's new