Olinalá (craftwork)

To make objects with olinalá, the aromatic wood extracted from the linaloe tree (Bursera linanoe) is highly appreciated.

[2] Although the most popular product is olinalá boxes and trunks, this artisan technique can also be applied to trays, fruit bowls, reliquaries, jewelry boxes, folding screens, headboards for the bed, seats, frames for mirrors and paintings, lecterns, breadboxes or tecomates (calabash bowls).

Certain voices have made public their concern about the overexploitation and decline of the linaloe population,[7] in part related to the artisan production of Olinalá according to INIFAP.

To enhance this odor, the tree must be subjected, while still alive, to a process of cala ("incision"),[9] which consists of making several longitudinal cuts in the trunk with a machete.

[10] The sap and water react, and generate a "veined" or "marbled" texture of dark stains on the wood, which is precisely the much desired fragrant essential oil.

After a few days of rest, holes are plastered (resanar) and sanded (lijar), in order to obtain a piece that is as smooth as possible.

[2] It is an abundant rock in the region, that is extracted and dehydrated in fire, and then ground in a metate until it becomes a powder and is mixed with oak charcoal (nanche), which gives it the black color.

[3] The second layer is tecoxtle, an iron oxide that is mixed with chia oil (chamate) and serves as a binding agent.

This is how Alzate y Ramírez defined them in his 19th century publication: The soils for the composition of the painting are: Rayado ('scratching'), desdibujo ('inverse drawing'), vaciado ('hollowing') or recortado ('trimming') are local ways of calling sgraffito, which consists of drawing by making incisions in the lacquer with a guajolote feather at the tip of which is inserted a maguey or huizache thorn.