What is the craft of Olínala?

What is the craft of Olinalá? Olinalá is a town located in the mountainous region of the state of Guerrero, but there is a special smell that distinguishes Olinalá and that aroma is undoubtedly the smell that comes from the lináloe trees; The wood that the master craftsmen use to make the famous Olinalá boxes, which are recognized throughout the world, is extracted from this tree.

Olinalá's crafts are recognized worldwide due to the colors with which they are made, but that's not all because the process used by the masters to create unique pieces is incredible because a meticulous, complex and timely process is required to make them. high aesthetic value, the technique that these master craftsmen use are ancestral and dates back more than 150 years.

The elaboration of each piece is carried out through tradition and the use of elements of natural origin such as stones, earth, natural dyes and oils such as chia; Thus, brushes that are made with natural materials such as cat hair, fox tail, charcoal, chicken feathers, turkey feathers, huizache or maguey spines are also used.

Designs of Olinala

The design or drawing of each piece depends a lot on the artisan techniques of each master, for example, in the golden technique they combine the direct application of color and gold leaf, the scratching applies a second layer of color and it is scraped with the huizache thorn. , emptying is similar to scratching, but the entire outline of the drawing with huizache thorn is detached and the dotting once the drawing is scratched on the second layer of lacquer, the figures are outlined with contrasting colors with very fine dots.

Olinalá is one of the few places in the world that encompasses all the beauty, tradition, baggage and heritage in a totally handmade work that they have inherited from their ancestors and have passed on from generation to generation. Olinalá Handicrafts are not limited to just boxes, they have an extensive offer ranging from jaguar heads, donkeys, trays, bread baskets, fruit bowls, bules and more.

Opening and smelling a wooden box from Olinalá is transporting you to this magical place, full of tradition and culture, the crafts of this place that houses the best teachers is a legacy of Mexico for the world.