VTG Tree of Life & Death Catrina Candelabra Jorge Mercado Castillo Izucar Mexico For Sale

Jorge Mercado Castillo Catrina Candelabra Izucar de Matamoros Puebla Folk Art 💀 Jorge Mercado Castillo Catrina Candelabra 💀
Izúcar de Matamoros | Polychrome Clay (Barro Policromado) | Signed Tree of Death (Árbol de la Muerte) | Cold-Painted Anilines | Applied Florals (Pastillaje) | 8" x 8"

Signed "Jorge MC" candelabra from Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla—the epicenter of Mexico's barro policromado tradition. This three-socket Árbol de la Muerte features a central Catrina figure in decorated folk dress, surrounded by hand-applied pastillaje flowers and perched birds. The geometric borders (grecas) and micro-stippled (punteado) detailing on her garments reflect the intricate painting techniques that define the Castillo-Mercado workshop lineage.

Hand-modeled without molds (sin moldes), fired, primed with Spanish white (Blanco de España), and cold-painted with organic anilines using fine sable-hair brushes. Museum-grade Puebla folk art.

The Catrina's garments showcase the full vocabulary of Izúcar decorative technique: her bodice and skirt panels are covered in dense diamond grecas—geometric patterns derived from pre-Hispanic textile and architectural codes—while the collar and hem feature radiating leaf motifs in orange and black. The fine crosshatching and punteado stippling on the apron demonstrate the freehand brush control that distinguishes Castillo-Mercado workshop pieces from lesser production. Beneath the anilines, the luminous Blanco de España primer glows through, giving the colors their characteristic depth.

🎨 The Artist: Jorge Mercado Castillo

Jorge Mercado Castillo operates from Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, within the celebrated Castillo-Mercado workshop tradition. His work synthesizes two legendary lineages: the Mercado family's sin moldes structural approach and the Castillo family's renowned fine-line polychromatic painting.

His signature "Jorge MC" denotes pieces from his personal workshop, characterized by dense geometric patterning and the technical rigor expected of Izúcar's master-tier artisans.

📍 Sourced from La Ciudadela, Mexico City

Originally sourced from the elite stalls of La Ciudadela—a gallery-grade investment for the serious collector of Mexican folk art.

La Ciudadela is Mexico City's premier artisan market, established in 1968 to showcase the finest Mexican craftsmanship. Vendors here maintain direct relationships with master artisans in the provinces; signed works from recognized workshops command premium placement. La Ciudadela sourcing confirms authenticity—not mass-produced souvenir ware.

🏛️ The Izúcar de Matamoros Tradition

Izúcar de Matamoros—originally "Itzocan" in Nahuatl, meaning "the place where people paint faces"—has been a center of barro policromado since pre-Hispanic times. The region's unique clay deposits and climate created ideal conditions for the tradition that would eventually produce the iconic Tree of Life (Árbol de la Vida).

The Castillo, Mercado, and Balbuena families have maintained this craft for generations, with techniques passing from master to apprentice within family workshops. Unlike mass-produced pottery, Izúcar pieces are modeled entirely by hand—no industrial molds, no shortcuts.

✋ Technique: Barro Policromado

The creation process follows the traditional Izúcar method:

Hand-Modeling: Clay formed without molds, with wire armatures inserted to support the branching candelabra structure.
Initial Firing: Kiln-fired to create a porous ceramic base.
Blanco de España: A mineral primer applied to create a luminous, matte canvas.
Cold-Painting: Aniline pigments applied freehand with fine sable-hair brushes after firing, preserving color brilliance.
Pastillaje: Individual clay flowers and decorative elements hand-shaped and attached to the structure.

💀 Iconography: Árbol de la Muerte

This piece is an Árbol de la Muerte variant of the traditional Árbol de la Vida. The central Catrina—a skeletal female figure in decorated folk dress—occupies the axis where Adam and Eve would appear in a conventional Tree of Life. The transformation reflects the core Día de los Muertos philosophy: death is not separate from life but integral to it.

The surrounding elements remain "life" motifs: perched birds symbolizing the soul's transcendence and functional candle cups that bring literal light when used on an altar (ofrenda). The large purple and blue flowers hand-molded onto the branches represent marigolds (cempasúchil). While traditionally orange in nature, artisans like Jorge MC often utilize a vibrant, non-traditional palette—blue, purple, pink—to signify the festive, spiritual nature of the holiday.

📋 Specifications TypeÁrbol de la Muerte Candelabra ThemeDía de los Muertos / La Catrina OriginIzúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, Mexico ArtistJorge Mercado Castillo (signed "Jorge MC") MaterialBarro Policromado TechniqueHand-modeled, Blanco de España primed, cold-painted anilines HeightApproximately 8" (20 cm) WidthApproximately 8" (20 cm) Candle HoldersThree (3) sockets Decorative ElementsPastillaje florals, perched birds, grecas, punteado ✅ Condition: Excellent

• Structure: No cracks, chips, or repairs
• Catrina Figure: Fully intact with all details preserved
• Cold-Paint: Vibrant pigmentation throughout; no significant fading or flaking
• Pastillaje: All flowers and birds attached and intact
• Candle Sockets: All three functional
• Signature: "Jorge MC" clearly visible

Overall: Museum-quality preservation. Cold-painted pieces are vulnerable to light and moisture; this example has been well-stored.

🎯 Perfect For

• Mexican folk art collectors
• Barro policromado enthusiasts
• Día de los Muertos altar builders
• Castillo-Mercado tradition collectors
• Izúcar de Matamoros ceramics seekers
• Museum-quality folk art buyers

📦 What's Included

• Jorge Mercado Castillo Catrina Candelabra
• Signed "Jorge MC" on reverse

🚚 Shipping

Ships fast. Packed with extreme care. Cold-painted clay is fragile—the pigments sit atop the surface and are not fused. This piece will be double-boxed with foam and individual cushioning for all protruding elements.

🌺 Signed Izúcar de Matamoros barro policromado. The Castillo-Mercado tradition. — CHIEF 💀