Handcrafts and folk art in Jalisco
The main handcraft tradition is ceramics, which has produced a number of known ceramicists, including Jorge Wilmot, who introduced high fire work into the state.
[3] Most of these are made and sold in the area in and around the state capital of Guadalajara, which is the main focus of commerce for western Mexico.
[1] In addition, to providing jobs directly, the manufacture and sales of handcrafts is an important component of the state's tourism industry.
However, their modern standing is mostly due to the efforts of Jorge Wilmot, who moved to Tonalá in the 1950s after studying ceramics in Europe and Asia.
He expanded the area's production from pots and jars to complete dish sets, large vases, mosaics and tiles and more.
[2][3] It produces a wide variety of pieces both decorative and utilitarian including tiles, bathroom fixtures, vases, dishes, storage containers, bottles, jars, platters, figurines, pots and vats.
[1] Most of the state's production is in the Atemajac Valley, especially the towns of Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, which produce some of the most distinctive pottery techniques and decorative styles in the country.
Related to this is petatillo, which is burnished pottery distinguished by the use of fine cross hatching in areas not painted with images, commonly animals and plants.
[1] The state's long history of fine pottery production has resulted in a number of highly notable ceramicists.
[3] Wood is worked in varied communities to make a variety of wares, which include furniture, toys and cooking utensils.
The best known furniture piece produced in the state is the equipal chair, which are round made with strips of wood and backs and seats of leather.
The wood is from a tree called the palo dulce, with sections sliced with a curved machete and arranged to form the base and supports.
[3][1] Teocaltiche is known for the production of small wood items, especially lathe-turned pieces, including miniatures, toys, and cooking utensils, especially molinillos, a beater used to make froth in hot chocolate.
[3] Although the most common kind of Mexican serape is associated with the city of Saltillo, Coahuila, the state of Jalisco has laid claim as the originator, with several variations.
[3][1] Other handcrafted clothing items include rebozos in silk, sashes, shirts and aprons called chincuetes or tilmas, especially in Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Lagos de Moreno, Tuxpan and along the shore of Lake Chapala.
Blown glass remains true to traditional forms as well as division of labor, with workshops having apprentices and workers under a master craftsman.
However more modern setups have come into play since the mid 20th century, when Jose Camarasa began to manufacture glass prisms for light fixtures and lamps in Tlaquepaque.
Wrought iron is principally worked in Guadalajara, and in Sayuda where they make knives, blades and machetes and is home to the Knife Museum.
Leather is produced from cattle, sheep skin and formed into belts, boots, huaraches (especially in Concepción de Buenos Aires), other shoes, bags, whips, chaps, saddles and more.
[1] Masks are made in various parts of the state and in various materials, traditionally connected with ceremonial dances such as the mecos or Apaches in Los Altos, tastoanes in Santa Cruz de la Huertas (Tonala), diablos in Cajititlan, aguila real in Zapopan, tatachines in the north of the state and paixtles in Zapotlan el Grande and Tuxpan.
These includeTlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tateposco, San Antonio de las Huertas, El Rosario and Santa Cruz.
The two main production centers are Tlaquepaque and Tonalá which make various types of low and high-fire pottery, aluminum goods, clothing, leather, metals such as tin, iron, bronze and copper, stone, wicker, wood, cartonería, fireworks, blown glass, carved glass and gypsum.
