Axolotl Copal Wood Axolotl Alebrije from Mexico Alejandra Torres This artisan-crafted sterling silver necklace

This artisan-crafted sterling silver necklace features a hand-stamped "13

By working directly with the communities

kraft paper

he cuts out the image and hammers it into low relief

A sparkplug forms the body and textured wire becomes arms and legs

Axolotl Copal Wood Axolotl Alebrije from Mexico Alejandra Torres This artisan-crafted sterling silver necklaceJesus and Roxana recreate the axolotl, one of Mexico's rarest and most iconic creatures, in colorful alebrije form. They hand carve it from copal wood and decorate its body with joyful geometric patterns in a palette of saffron yellow, dark green, bright red, and purple. The axolotl's gills are detached for safe and easy transport. Jesus and Roxana come from a Zapotec community in Oaxaca where a large number of the residents work crafting alebrijes.