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Metepec Trees of Life |
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 Located in Mexico's heartland, Metepec sits just south of the famed market town of Toluca in the state of Mexico. Metepec artisans have been producing loza corriente (utilitarian pottery), barro de cocina (cooking ware), toys, ceremonial figures, and trees of life since the 16th century. The area's fine-particled rich red clay provides the basis for the endeavor. "Forests have always had deep-rooted symbolic meaning in virtually every culture on earth. In Vedic philosophy, the symbolism of wood claims this element as the primal material of the universe. Christian art symbolism depicts Christ as the cosmic carpenter and His ultimate sacrifice is represented by the symbolism of a wooden cross. The Jewish depiction of the Kabbalah is in the form of a modified tree and explains the mystical teachings of Judaism." (Kathleen Karlsen, http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoforests.htm) "Among pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, the concept of "world trees" is a prevalent motif in Mesoamerican mythical cosmologies and iconography. World trees embodied the four cardinal directions, which represented also the fourfold nature of a central world tree, a symbolic axis mundi connecting the planes of the Underworld and the sky with that of the terrestrial world. Depictions of world trees, both in their directional and central aspects, are found in the art and mythological traditions of cultures such as the Maya, Aztec, Izapan, Mixtec, Olmec, and others, dating to at least the Mid/Late Formative periods of Mesoamerican chronology. Among the Maya, the central world tree was conceived as or represented by a ceiba tree, and is known variously as a wacah chan or yax imix che, depending on the Mayan language. The trunk of the tree could also be represented by an upright caiman, whose skin evokes the tree's spiny trunk. Directional world trees are also associated with the four Yearbearers in Mesoamerican calendars, and the directional colors and deities. Mesoamerican codices which have this association outlined include the Dresden, Borgia and Fejérváry-Mayer codices. It is supposed that Mesoamerican sites and ceremonial centers frequently had actual trees planted at each of the four cardinal directions, representing the quadripartite concept. World trees are frequently depicted with birds in their branches, and their roots extending into earth or water (sometimes atop a "water-monster", symbolic of the underworld)." - From Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life Metepec trees of life continue to represent these ancient and universal themes. The artists who work with this powerful symbol employ various ceramic techniques: coiling, press-molding, hand modeling, convex molding, and lump molding. Short lengths of galvanized wire hold the tree sections together and connect the different elements to the branches. Trees can stand as tall as 15 feet and take weeks to construct. Some Metepec Trees are painted, some are not, and some borrow the intense polychrome style of Toluca pottery. All attempt to represent the connectedness of all life. To order an item, call (512) 474-8680 or toll-free (888) 474-8680 or email info@elinterior.com. If you'd like to place an order by email, tell us what you'd like to order, where it is shipping, and we now can send you a secure payment form through Paypal. |
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Last updated 06/2/11 |
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