Auction Ends: Aug 22, 2021 04:00 PM MST

Art

Oaxacan Lizard Alebrije

Item Number: 116

Estimated Value: 100 USD
Sold: 70 USD to mbc9ac431

The winning bid will go to FrontStream Global Fund (tax ID 26-3265577), a 501c3 nonprofit organization, which will send the donation to TUCSON PRESIDIO TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION (tax ID 860687426) on behalf of the winner.

Number of Bids: 5 - Bid History

Item Description

Pedro Linares (1906-1992), a renowned indigenous Mexican artist, was inspired to create alebrijes during an illness at the age of 30. During his sickness, he lost consciousness and dreamed of a bizarre, peaceful place that resembled a forest. He recounted seeing giant rocks, tall trees, and an expansive sky. The artist felt remarkably healthy again, and he felt happy as he walked along trails through the dense foliage of his dreamworld.

Suddenly, the clouds, rocks, and trees began to transform. The land features around him shaped themselves into animals that were familiar and yet like nothing Linares had ever seen before. There were mules with dragonfly wings, roosters with antlers, creatures that resembled gryphons and dragons, just to name a few. They had unnatural colors and patterns swirling over their bodies. These creatures began repeatedly chanting a single word: alebrije...alebrije...alebrije! Linares became fearful of these strange, powerful creatures chanting this nonsense word and startled awake in time for his fever to subside. After this episode, he first made his artful alebrijes out of paper maché and then used wood.

Bring some color and fantasy into your home by bidding on this large, wooden lizard alebrije. Made in Oaxaca, Mexico, it is dominantly pink on top and green underneath and measure 24" long.