Description
The tradition behind this Jaguar head
This colorful Animal Head was handcrafted and hand painted by group of carefully selected Colombian artisans. Carved out of Red Ceiba wood, this mask was later painted with acrylic.
The zoomorphic masks are an emblematic element of Barranquilla’s Carnival. However, this object has also become an important element of the cultural identity of the region, and wooden animal heads are now also crafted as decorative objects. Most wooden heads are the result of the cultural mix between Africans, Indians and Europeans that started to take place in the 15th century.
The creative process of the animal heads starts with the selection of the raw material. It then goes through the design of the sketch of the piece and thus the carving of the wood, until creating the shape of the mask that will take life with the process of painting and decoration.
The jaguar is part of a group of animals that are considered as an emblematic element of Barranquilla’s Carnival, in one of the most ancient dance of the festival: the dance of the Congos.
Toro Miura workshop
Carving and decorating these masks is one of the main and most traditional economic activities of the village of Galapa.
Toro Miura workshop, lead by Manuel Pertuz, has been existing for more than 30 years, and is well known for the quality of its masks.
Each wooden mask is totally handmade and thus unique. Therefore, you may find slight variations or imperfections.
