Picture frame (2)- Hand-painted tribal - Terracotta - 2 frames, Mexico-France

Two brand-new photo frames from the late 1980s, one origin Mexico and one France. One in terracotta from Mexico, hand-painted, in the Guadalupe Rodríguez Roldán style, approximately 15x18 cm. The other in an elegant and glossy cherry color with iron floral decoration, approximately 20x15 cm.

The terracotta (or clay) frame hand-painted by Mexican artists is part of a rich tradition of popular art and pottery that fuses the pre-Hispanic past with colonial and contemporary folklore. This craft, primarily used to frame mirrors, photographs, or religious paintings, safeguards a deep cultural identity and a hand-made process transmitted from generation to generation.

Origin and History

1. Pre-Hispanic Roots: Before the arrival of the Spanish, clay or terracotta modeling was already a sacred and everyday activity for Mesoamerican cultures (such as the Maya, Aztecs, Zapotecs, and Mixtecs). Natural clay was hand-molded and painted with mineral pigments for vessels and decorative elements.
2. Colonial Fusion: With the arrival of the Spaniards, new firing techniques (such as closed kilns) and the use of glazes were introduced. Frames began to gain popularity in New Spain to house images of saints or mirrors brought from Europe, adapting Baroque decorations to Indigenous worldview.
3. The Role of Women Artists: Historically, pottery in Mexico has been a pillar supported by women in family workshops. Great master artisans—as the famed Doña Rosa in Oaxaca with black clay, or families dedicated to “pastillaje” and modeling in states like Michoacán, Guerrero, Puebla, and the State of Mexico—have been responsible for perfecting hand-painted decoration.

Characteristics of the Piece

• The Process: Terracotta is artisanally molded from natural clay extracted from local soils. After being shaped as a frame, it undergoes slow sun drying and an initial firing in a kiln.
• The Painting: Once the piece is fired, Mexican artists apply base paints (traditionally acrylic) and proceed to detailed hand-work. The characteristic designs include colorful flowers, birds, alebrije-style motifs, or colonial geometric tracings, finished with a protective varnish.

It ships with a tracking number and is perfectly protected.