{"product_id":"antonio-alonso-tamales-street-seller-paper-mache","title":"Antonio Alonso: Tamales Street Seller Paper Mache","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003epapier-mâché opossum tamale seller by Antonio Alonso of Oaxaca\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is full of the humor and observation that make Mexican folk art so engaging. Dressed in a bright red shirt and blue pants, the opossum rides behind a yellow street cart, long tail curling behind him as he leans toward his pots of tamales.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cart is wonderfully detailed. One pot holds tamales wrapped in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebanana leaves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while the other is filled with tamales wrapped in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecorn husks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, representing two different traditions found in Mexico. Beside them is a large container of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eatole\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the warm corn-based drink so closely associated with tamales. The lids lift to reveal the food inside, turning the sculpture into a miniature portrait of a familiar Mexican street scene.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe choice of an opossum, or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003etlacuache\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, makes the piece especially appealing. The tlacuache is a familiar animal in Mexico and also appears in ancient Mesoamerican stories, where it is often portrayed as clever and resourceful. Here, Antonio Alonso gives it a very contemporary occupation, transforming the neighborhood tamale vendor into an endearing animal character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMade in papier-mâché and carefully painted by hand, the sculpture combines everyday Mexican food culture with imagination and wit. From the tiny wheels and metal-gray cooking pots to the neatly modeled tamales inside, Alonso turns a simple street-food cart into a lively piece of Oaxacan folk art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eOrigin: Oaxaca\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: 5''Tall 5.5''Long 3''Wide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sandia Folk","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67318276096249,"sku":"730363AA","price":215.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0245\/1069\/3451\/files\/Paper-Mache-Tamales-Seller-2875.jpg?v=1791476142","url":"https:\/\/www.sandiafolk.com\/products\/antonio-alonso-tamales-street-seller-paper-mache","provider":"Sandia Folk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}