| This cute little Guatemalan box is handmade and simply beautiful. You could use this Guatemalan box for keeping a ring or small valued possession safe. It would also look wonderful displayed on a shelf or other special place. The box measures about 3 inches high to the top of the decorative handle. It is 2 inches wide and the interior is about 1.5 inches deep.
This beautiful Guatemalan box is made by Juan Mendoza. Juan Mendoza, 36 years old, is a Maya Tzutujil, who was born and lives in Santiago Atitlan, Solola on the south side of Lake Atitlan. Juan is married and has 3 sons. The Maya Tzutujil ethnic group is one of the largest of the smaller ethnic groups in Guatemala, whose population is approximately 80,000. The Tzutujiles territory is situated primarily on the south side of Lake Atitlan in 5 municipalities of the Solola province.
Juan started working with the weaving arts when he was 15 years old making wristbands and stoles. A few years later he started creating folk art, learning how to carve bamboo drums and wooden animals. He also started painting using the primitivism art style, and depicting everyday scenes within the Tzutujil community on canvas. He now has 8 years experience making a variety of folk art, fine art and musical instruments including bamboo drums, maracas, wooden boxes, paintings and wood carvings. Juan has three brothers and they all like to paint in the primitivism art style. He set up a shop in Panajachel several years ago where displays his paintings and folk art and sells his products to tourists. |
