Antiques and collectibles in Mexico: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Puebla and Oaxaca
The open-air stalls to Lagunilla Sunday in Mexico City, the expansive shopping street north of San Miguel de Allende, shops and the market weekend in Los Sapos, Puebla, and good old-fashioned harvest in the state of Oaxaca. Each offers a useful way for the purchase of antiques and collectibles in the central and southern Mexico. Of course there are many more, but in the last two decades Canadian transplant has found success hitting the ground (often in the case ofOaxaca barely passable dirt roads and trails) in these four locations.
The selection of antiques and collectibles available in Central and Southern Mexico
While the selection and quantity of antiques in the central and southern Mexico is impressive, it might be to seek depression glass and other collectibles for a surprise. There is very little American glass factories, Canadians and Europeans in Mexico, compared to what is found in Canada and the United States. EIf you are not of the quality of antique glass, in most cases is expensive. Glass, however, hand-blown (soplado vidrio) 16 Century, Mexico, from the product, even if a different quality from that of the glass will meet in the house. Mexican Glass is fairly common and sell prices, usually in excellent condition compared to the original hand-painted designs and no chips or cracks.
You get into a good piece of military memorabilia including weapons, books and vintageCoins, tiles and other ceramic pieces, posters and film products and other smalls. Of course, the religious artifacts are common, including altarpieces, votive, angels and crosses.
Iron is also in Mexico after 16 Century forged, usually favorably over time. In fact, the steel workers in Mexico today, at least in the southern part of the country, probably the best in terms of all transactions must be processed. Keys and locks, railings,Doors, windows and doors, as well as tools and weapons are easily and a variety of other iron products Lagunilla, Los Sapos, San Miguel de Allende has met, and even in some antique shops in Oaxaca.
Pieces of mugYmxpbmQ=#">stone from the collection are available in almost all the shops and markets are available, including grinding mugYmxpbmQ=#">stones (manos known as metates with - the hand-piece) can be used to mash corn, and mortar-set (also known as Molcajetes) Spraying mainly spices, herbs andChiles. A hand-carved limemugYmxpbmQ=#">stone cornices stumbles sometimes out of monasteries and public buildings.
Both rectangular and dome - over wooden boxes are widely available. Bone structure - the painted or stripped Baul (pine-covered box for Americans and Canadians) are often found with its original four. Doors off of administrative buildings and former - are often huge haciendas in height, width and thickness, are found in the original hardware clock. Tables, wagon wheels andimplements the other collectible wood from a large mouth on this side of Mexico are round.
Select the locale for the detection Antiques and Collectibles in the Central and Southern Mexico
Sunday Open Air Mexico City antiques and collectibles market known as Lagunilla extends several blocks, and is connected to the foot of one of the hotels near the Zocalo (main square), and of course by taxi. There are some antique shops in the region and, although the provider withLevels are the main attraction Lagunilla.
many books on travel safety Lagunilla caution, and some retailers warn in the area close at dusk. However, the ancient hunters should be fine, provided that normal precautions are taken: do not dare to say what will be the appearance of an area "squalid" no big flash wads of cash, cameras and bags to keep near the front and body, and yes, it would be unwise to go around for the bedroomApproaches.
The picturesque area of Los Sapos known in the city of Puebla, about four blocks from the Zocalo's, is also a haven for collectors and dealers. The weekend market is small, especially for those accustomed to the Christie Classic Antique Show in Dundas, Ontario, expanding sales of Brimfield, Massachusetts, and similar large, outdoor and antique shops collector Canada and the United States. But you can find gems in Los Sapos, both on Saturday and scroungingSunday stalls (not to visit all the same provider for both days) and to a lesser extent, in stores within three blocks or so of open - open-air market. Lamps and candlesticks stand to resist, especially in shops at prices difficult.
Highway 51 goes from San Miguel de Allende, on the road to Dolores Hidalgo is a useful way to search for antiques, especially larger pieces. The prices are surprisingly low, since many ex-patriots living in San Miguel de Allende bysignificant resources. It 'strange that the exorbitant prices of the right of San Miguel, but accessible to only a few miles away in the outdoor shops and antique m punctuation both sides of the sloping highway. Outside the city, and with a rental car or hiring a driver and stop at each exit.
While Oaxaca is a very large antique store (on Calle Abasolo) with a particularly impressive selection of jewelry (and almost everything else) have, for its size is one of OaxacaWasteland for collectors and dealers, and prices are steep in terms of what is found elsewhere in central and southern Mexico. You need to go in rural areas.
Oaxaca is known for its handicraft villages, towns and churches from the colonial era in the country indicated. But these towns and villages have been pretty good, because the boom started collecting trip in 1960. Consequently, it is essential to venture beyond the usual tourist stops. Almost all the antiques and collectibles, Listed above are found inland in Oaxaca, as well as the occasional craft item advance (ie Alebrijes fanciful wood, ceramics, textiles).
The central valleys of Oaxaca are presumably created when the Mezcalero Chango. Mezcalero Chango is a terracotta container, painted like a monkey, has won the seal and serve mezcal, an alcoholic beverage from the agave was. The same bottle $ 20 fancy-painted ceramics produced around 1930 begins, it takes $ 500or more on a couple of archaeological sites in Mexico. But like everything else, are more difficult to obtain.
Notes cautionary measures for antique enthusiasts traveling to Central and Southern Mexico
The mention of pre-Hispanic artifacts, is absent from the foregoing. There are two reasons:
• The law prohibits the purchase and sale of archaeological objects, and, of course, their export. We also regularly hear the Mexicans in prison or execution of fines asResult of trade in pre-Hispanic pieces.
• reproductions as originals are represented big business, even in pre-Hispanic ruins, another reason to stay clean archaeological pieces. If it is represented as a play, then go ahead. Query, these suppliers can Lagunilla pieces, they represent a legitimate pre-Hispanic artifacts, which flew into the open where they are genuinely original. Farmers often approach foreigners, saying they have only come across pieces during plowing. DuringCertainly it is successful, and is about to be brought to light finds all the time, these farmers access to reproductions as well.
Other collectibles antique and vintage that are reproduced and are sometimes represented as an old advertising signs, metal trays, wine cellar, votive offerings, paper mache 'puta' dolls, ceremonial masks and metal. Well, sure - reproductions made are often very interesting and are suitable for use as decorations for the home, but if some do not pay ratesthat correspond to real vintage.
In some cases, contemporary good - seems to be implemented vintage worn, but it is not, nor is there an attempt to distort. Take, for example, metates. Some are pre-Hispanic, while others may only be 30 - 50 years, since some Mexican women still grind corn on a large flat rock river. After decades of use, seems nothing more than a metate was developed 1,500 years ago.
Another class of collectorsThat may or may not be old, but no attempt is wrong galvanized metal containers in a variety of shapes and sizes to make tamales (tamaleras) and for the transport of liquid milk, water and others.
The wood is sometimes difficult to bring the United States and Canada. The laws in Australia are even stricter. Pine, copal and other softwoods are susceptible to damage by insects, like termites. The problem is how Polillo known. Tell-tale signs are small holes in wood, or ifsitting in a seat for a while ', a white powder found next to the piece. If a store to find the base before collecting all the wood.
With the purchase of contemporary Alebrijes collectors and other wood products, ask what precautions were taken to prevent contamination Polillo. In San MartÃn Tilcajete, Oaxaca, the high-end workshop of Jacobo and Maria Angeles Mendoza is used to soak in a gasoline / insecticide mixture to leave, and in a special oven for a series ofHours, and then enable the laboratory to ensure its work.
Finally, resist the temptation to wake up before dawn to reach the market before anyone else. In most cases, antiques and collectibles dealers with booths at the outdoor markets and do not come up at the crack of dawn, as they do in markets like Christie or Brimfield. If you arrive by 8 clock (from almost all other collectors and collectors), there will be, while sellers are setting up, and when you get to 10There are items that I ordered. After providing this advice, guess who wakes up, but by 7 clock, and succumb to the market as soon as possible after, always first on the sidewalk are for a relaxing breakfast with hot chocolate and tamales, yes, before embarking the market?
Alvin Starkman MA, LLB.
Related : Face jester ads byer Motorized Scooter 39 cheapbestcamerasforsale
