Ceramic Trees of Life: Popular Art from Mexico

Lavishly illustrated with stunning examples and magnificent field shots, this volume traces the Tree of Life from its pre-Colombian origins to its role as a vibrant symbol of the modern nation of Mexico Tucked among their branches, the elaborate and colourful Mexican clay constructions known as Trees of Life may contain a range of possible scenes: pre-Hispanic cosmologies, genealogies, and rituals; biblical stories; historical vignettes; or secular events. Often fitted with candles or incense burners, they may soar to a height of twenty feet or be small enough to fit in a child's hand. Ever increasing in popularity, by the early 1970s, the remarkable and versatile Tree of Life had become a quintessential symbol of Mexico. In Ceramic Trees of Life, Lenore Hoag Mulryan and her co-authors explore the origins of this unique Mexican art form and examine its development and contemporary manifestations.