page_title: Handcrafts and folk art in Chiapas
section_title: Lacquerware
hierarchical_section_title: Handcrafts and folk art in Chiapas / Lacquerware
caption_attribution_description: English: lacquered gourds at the Museo de Laca in Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico
context_page_description: Chiapas handcrafts and folk art is most represented with the making of pottery, textiles and amber products, though other crafts such as those working with wood, leather and stone are also important. The state is one of Mexico's main handcraft producers, with most artisans being indigenous women, who dominate the production of pottery and textiles. The making of handcrafts has become economically and socially important in the state, especially since the 1980s, with the rise of the tourist market and artisans’ cooperatives and other organizations. These items generally cannot compete with commercially made goods, but rather are sold for their cultural value, primarily in San Cristóbal de las Casas.
context_section_description: Lacquerware, going by the names of laca or maque, is a craft tradition which survives from the pre Hispanic period. While it was a common craft in the Mesoamerican period, today the only center for its production in the state is Chiapa de Corzo.  The lacquerware is coated and decorated using fine brushes, but the products tend to be limited to gourds, bowls and “toles.” In the past a wider variety of objects were lacquered such as religious items and furniture. The craft declined and almost disappeared but today it is supported by state and federal government entities that train artisans and help them sell their wares. The state also supports a lacquer museum, which was founded in 1952 by anthropologist Alfonso Caso to demonstrate the pre Hispanic origins of the craft, its techniques and materials.
caption: Lacquered gourds at the Museo de Laca in Chiapa de Corzo
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