As in many cultures, masks are a part of Mexican tradition. Mexican tribes have used masks since before the Spanish conquest. Masks are used in tribal dances and festivals. These masks can represent females, males, animals, or deities. Their purpose is to drive out the wearer’s spirit and allow a deity to enter. Masks are usually made by men in Mexico’s southern, central, and northwestern states. Wood and cloth are the most common materials, but paper, leather, wire, and gourds can also be used.
Pottery is an ancient Mexican art, and probably one of the most popular. It is an art form which is found across Mexico in many different styles and forms. Before the Spanish conquest, Mexican tribes made pottery by hand in molds, firing the clay over bonfires at low temperatures. There are simple pieces of pottery, which are used for everyday needs, and more decorative pieces, which are used for ceremonies or adorning the home. Women generally make the simpler types of pottery, whereas men will produce more decorative pieces.
Woven textiles are another ancient Mexican art. The oldest piece of loom-woven cloth in Mexico dates back to some point between 900 and 200 BCE. Before the Spanish conquest, native tribal weavers used cotton, bark, and agave leaves. Narrow pieces of cloth were woven on a back strap loom. The Spanish introduced wool and silk fibers into Mexican weaving. Women from Mexico’s tribes still use this type of loom, but men use a floor loom to create wider pieces of cloth.
Basket weaving is also a pre-conquest art form. Baskets can be used for decoration or more practical purposes. Mexican folk art baskets are woven by hand from several types of palm fibers. Many fibers are dyed using natural pigments. Weavers generally incorporate patterns into baskets. Sometimes, these patterns feature local life in the village or native flora and fauna, but the weaver can also incorporate geometric patterns which have no deeper significance.
Ancient Mexicans used paper for decoration thousands of years ago. Native tribes, such as the Otomi tribe, still make paper from bark today. Artisans also create elaborate patterns, called papel picado, by cutting through folded paper with scissors or another sharp instrument. These paper cuttings are used as decoration during holidays and festivals. Papier mache, known in Mexico as papel pegado, involves cutting strips of paper and then gluing them to a frame. The finished products can be piñatas, carnival masks, or decorations for sale.