Carved and Lacquered Wood Mask

Carved and Lacquered Wood- Temalacatzingo, Guerrero

This mask was the Grand Prize winner in the town Lacquer competition 2017

by Cayetano Martínez

Dance Masks- Lacquer- Wood

Lacquer artist Cayetano Martínez created this carved wood and lacquer mask, which won the very top prize in the Temalacatzingo lacquer competition in 2018.

The isolated mountain indigenous village of Temalacatzingo has been producing lacquer work for thousands of years, originally for practical or religious use, but now as works of art. The artists apply many layers of chia oil and mineral powders, which they grind themselves and impregnate with naturally derived dyes. They burnish each layer, leaving the work with a rich depth of color and luscious soft sheen.