This is a fabulous Jaguar Head that measures 9" from the back of the head to the tip of its nose and is 8" from ear to ear.
Isandro Villa Lopez is a young father who lives in Agua Zarca, a small ranch just outside of San Andres Cohamiata. Isandro's grandfather Jacinto Lopez was considered to be the grandfather of bead art.
Bead art done by the Wixaritari (Huichol) can be dated back to the 1700s, where beads were introduced by a group of missionaries in an effort to convert them into Christianity. Their efforts proved futile and they were shortly expelled from the mountains but they decided to keep the beads. Thus they were slowly introduced into their religious offerings.
The technique has remained the same throughout the years. The Wixaritari layers a coat of wax onto the wooden piece or gourd, then after stacking layers onto a needle they begin to add them one by one starting from the inside of the design. After which the contours are filled, this labor is usually done by their kids in order for them to learn this art form.
