Martin Xuana: Deer Dancer Woodcarving

This stunning piece was carved by acclaimed Oaxacan artist Martin Xuana. It depicts a Costa Chica devil dancer captured mid-step, with his body elegantly wrapped in motion. This unique figure is adorned in a complete dancer's costume: a cream cotton manta tunic and matching trousers tied with a brownish-red sash, leather huaraches, and the distinctive heavy deer mask of the dance, with antlers rising sharply above his head. A wide black whip curves around the figure like a snare in motion, while a cluster of wooden cowbells hangs from his belt, providing the percussion that marks each step. Martin paints the mask with attention to detail. The antlers are tipped in deep grey, featuring dotted patterns reminiscent of fur. The dancer's body is left in the pale natural color of copal, with subtle accents on the cuffs, sandals, and sash. The figure exudes the dignified presence of a performer in the midst of a celebration. The Danza de los Diablos is a signature folk tradition of the Costa Chica region, which stretches along the Pacific coast from southern Guerrero to western Oaxaca. This tradition is particularly significant to the Afro-Mexican communities in this area. It is commonly believed that the devils are not malevolent beings but rather ancestral spirits granted permission to accompany the souls of the deceased back to their families, who welcome and celebrate their presence. This dancer, bearing the weight of a very old ceremony, is intricately carved from copal by a master craftsman from the Oaxaca highlands, far from the coast where this dance continues to be celebrated each November. Origin: Oaxaca Dimensions: 13.5''Tall 10''Long 6.5''Wide