Hand-Painted Multi-Colored Mexican Tin Ornaments at El Interior, 1009 West Lynn, Austin TX 78703

Hand-Painted Multi-Colored Tin Ornaments by Angel Valdez and Sons


Before its conquest by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, the native people of Mexico and Central America created objects of great beauty from their natural resources. In ancient Mexico, gold, silver, and copper were plentiful and accessible, and from those metals, the Aztec people created masterpieces of jewelry, masks, and sacred objects. However, as the Spaniards conquered the native people, they melted down the beautiful jewelry and sent it back to Europe, dug mines, made slaves of the Aztecs, and forbad them to use precious metals. Of necessity, the Indians turned to tin. With their skill in metalwork, they soon created beautiful mirror frames, jewelry, ornaments, and candle holders with the shiny, malleable metal. A new form of art thus arose out of political and economic necessity. Much tin work today comes from the city of Oaxaca, home to a very large native Indian population. Drawing on his heritage, Angel Valdez and his sons are among those tinsmiths who have an exquisite sensibility, producing unique and varied pieces. To begin, they draw or etch the figure onto the thin sheet of tin using a pattern or template and, starting at the edges, begin to cut out the profile of the figure with long shears. They then use pliers and fine quality tools to create patterns and shapes in the tin. Afterwards, the piece takes on a life of its own as it is hand-painted in vibrant, vivid colors.


		#1 Tin Ornaments Peacock, Snake $3.25 each



		#2 Tin Ornaments Parrots, Cactus $3.25 each



		#3 Tin Ornaments Birds, Cactus $3.25 each Both Birds SOLD OUT



		#4 Tin Ornaments Boot, Rocking Horse $3.25 each



		#5 Tin Ornaments Butterflies, Bull $3.25 each



		#6 Tin Ornaments Skeleton Women, Bird $3.25 each Middle Bird SOLD OUT



		#7 Tin Ornaments Skeletons holding skulls, Cat $3.25 each Right Skeleton SOLD OUT



		#8 Tin Ornaments Churches, Cat $3.25 each Left Church SOLD OUT



		#9 Tin Ornaments Pheasants, Santa $3.25 each Left Pheasant SOLD OUT



		#10 Tin Ornaments Fish, Bird $3.25 each Right Fish SOLD OUT



		#11 Tin Ornaments Missions $3.25 each



		#12 Tin Ornaments Moons, Turtle $3.25 each SOLD OUT



		#13 Tin Ornaments Reindeer, Christmas Tree $3.25 each



		#14 Tin Ornaments Mermaids, Swordfish $3.25 each



		#15 Tin Ornaments Sombrero Sleepers, Owl $3.25 each



		#16 Tin Ornaments Swans $3.25 each



		#17 Tin Ornaments Winged Hearts $3.25 each Middle Heart SOLD OUT



		#18 Tin Ornaments Witches, Poinsettia Candle $3.25 each



		#19 Tin Ornaments Trumpeting Cherubs $3.25 each



El Interior 1009 West Lynn Austin, TX 78703 p. (512) 474-8680 info@elinterior.com www.elinterior.com

Last Updated 11/5/11