Lacquer
Lacquer
The spectacular lacquer gourds from Temalacatzingo, Guerrero, have been called the “Faberge Eggs of Mexico,” so richly and intricately decorated are they. The finest ones are produced each year for the town competition where Mayer Shacter is usually the only person who is buying work. As a result, Galeria Atotonilco has by far the largest and finest collection of these spectacular, rare gourds. You won’t find them anywhere else.
The artists make smaller, less elaborate gourds and small toys for local markets during the year, but the exquisite large and elaborate works they make only once a year. The competitions are important for the artists because of prize money supplied by local, state, and federal arts organizations. The prize money is an important source of income for these artists. But they have not cultivated a market for the prize-winning gourds, leaving Galeria Atotonilco as virtually the only source of them.
The Techniques
The artists are experts at cultivating gourds. They save seeds, and they know which seeds produce which shapes and sizes. Each family owns a piece of land outside of town where they cultivate the gourds the will decorate.
First they have to allow the gourds to dry out for several months. Then, the artists cut the top off the gourd in a pleasing pattern, using a tiny, saw tooth blade held with a cloth handle. This step is so important that a separate prize is awarded for the most clean and unusual or intricate cut. Next, they empty the dried seeds and sand the surface, both inside and out, to a smooth shine.
Now the artists apply chia oil, which they have obtained by crushing chia seeds. It is this chia oil that gives their work its distinctive sheen. Then, with a circular hand motion, they work in mineral powders, which have been finely ground in their own workshop and are usually impregnated with color that is derived from natural seeds, stones, plants, flowers, or earth. Now, they burnish that mix with a smooth pyrite stone to a uniform sheen. These stages of chia oil, mineral powders, and burnishing, they repeat over and over. The more layers, the greater the translucency, depth of color, and soft jewel-like quality that results. They apply these layers both inside and out.
Now they are ready for whatever design they want to paint onto the surface, using the lacquers and pigments they have created, applying them with fine, handmade brushes. Designs vary from flowers and birds to geometric patterns, some derived from traditional “greko” shapes that are found in the ruins of Mitla.
