Handcrafts and folk art in Hidalgo
Hidalgo (state) handcrafts and folk art are mostly made for local consumption rather than for collectors, although there have been efforts to promote this work to a wider market.
The most important handcraft traditions are pottery, especially in the municipality of Huejutla and textiles, which can be found in diverse parts of the state.
Most artisans of the state are indigenous and live in socioeconomically marginalized areas, making mostly utilitarian items such as pottery and textiles for local markets.
[1] In 2011, the state and the Museo de Arte Popular held a special exhibit of Hidalgo handcrafts in Mexico City.
[4] Pachuca is home to the Casa de Artesanías Hidarte, which is an outlet for the major handcraft traditions of the state.
Another indigenous handcraft is the working of stiff fibers such as those from the maguey and lechuguilla plants to make bags, nets and some clothing items.
[7] The Hidalgo part of the Huasteca region has subtropical vegetation, with an abundance of water in rivers and springs and almost no urban areas.
These crafts tend to be utilitarian rather than decorative making comals, other cooking vessels, fish traps, candles, etc., generally for domestic use.
This include mostly unglazed wares such as those for the storage and cooking of food, for pulque, water jugs, comals, flower pots and gourd-shaped bowls called apiloles, along with construction materials such as floor and roof tiles.
[2][6] These are used to make storage and serving containers for liquids and food, animal figures, candle holders, whistles and more.
San Pedro de las Ollas has a small production of water jugs and flower pots distinguished with spiral motifs in black over a polished red background.
[2] Cotton and wool are usually used to make clothing items (dresses, shirts, pants, sashes, quezquemitls) along with tablecloths, carrying bags and rugs, principally in the Huasteca region, the Mezquital Valley and Tulancingo.
[2][8] The most common weaving technique is with the backstrap loom, used principally to make sashes and carrying bags, but other items such as quexquemitls are made with these as well.
Traditional women’s dress consists of it, a blouse, a wrap skirt held in place with a wool sash.
[5] Ixtle is a native fiber extracted from maguey leaves, and its particularly worked in the Mezquital Valley and other semi-arid areas.
[8] Palm fronds are used to make hats, petates, and petacas (handleless boxes used for storage) fans for starting fires, as well as baskets and toys.
[2][8] Reeds, whole and split, are used to make baskets of various types, flutes, toys (especially small cars) and bird cages.
Tizapán (Zacualtipán) is noted for its copperwares, which include pots, large pans, jars, vases, trays and sets for coffee and tea, as well as similar items in miniature.
[7] Most wood is worked for local consumption such as the carpentry activities that take place in locations such as Texkedó, Gundhó, El Delfay, Wacri and Agua Limpia.
The community of Nith, in Ixmiquilpan is known for the making of musical instruments, picture frames and small boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl .
