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MEXICAN FOLK ART LOTERÍA

Welcome to Mexico By Hand’s Loteria game! Below you will find some information about the pieces of artesanía (which is the Spanish word for folk art and crafts) that we’ve included on the game boards. All of it is made in the state of Michoacán. We sometimes include the names of artisans and communities – if we know them–and some of these items you can search on our website: www.mexicobyhand. We hope you enjoy learning about the art, and of course have fun playing our version of Lotería!

 *Note: If you need to learn about the different ways to play Lotería, scroll down to the link provided by our friends at Loteria Studio who helped us create our Lotería game. 

  1. El Corazón/HEART– Milagros means “miracles” in English, and they are little charms that are used in Catholic churches across Mexico and a few other countries. The small metal milagros can be parts of the body, farm animals,or important crops like corn. The devout will use milagros to pray for miracles. A couple of decades ago some artists in Mexico began making folk art pieces with milagros that included wood crosses, frames, boxes, and most notably–hearts. This painted wood heart features one large milagro of a heart in the center.

  2. El Cojín/PILLOW or CUSHION–This pillow features beautiful embroidery created in Rancho Santa Cruz near Lake Patzcuaro in Michoacán where women create “stories” celebrating holidays or their daily life on the ranch.

  3. El Cazo/COPPER POT–A cazo is a traditional hammered copper pot that is used for cooking a variety of foods, most notably carnitas. Cazos are all made in Santa Clara del Cobre, the copper village of Michoacán.

  4. El Candelabro/CANDELABRA–There are many styles of clay candelabras in Mexico, but this black glazed piece is only made in the Purepecha village of Santa Fe de la Laguna in Michoacán. The artist is Herlinda Morales Jerónimo who was named a Great Master of Mexican Folk Art.

  5. El Florero/VASE– There are many vases produced by artisans throughout Mexico, but this one was hammered out of copper. Artisans in the village of Santa Clara del Cobre have been making copper pots and vases for over 500 years. It takes thousands of hammer blows and much skill to make even a small vase like this one.

  6. El Guaje de Laca/LACA GOURD–Laca means lacquer, but this art form is more than that. It’s a traditional technique found in Patzcuaro, Michoacán and artisans there paint jewelry such as jewelry, boxes, and the finest artisans will sometimes use a gourd. If you look closely you can see something shiny– because often gold leaf is applied.

  7. El Silbato/WHISTLE–The Purepecha village of Ocumicho is known for its clay sculptures of devils, but artisans there also make figurines with religious themes and daily life such as a classroom or cantina. But painted clay whistles of birds are the most traditional of all.

  8. El Tortillero/TORTILLA BASKET–This basket was woven out of a reed that grows in the lakes of Michoacán and is called “chuspata”. Artisans around Lake Patzcuaro also make chuspata animals and even furniture, but baskets with a handwoven napkin are used in homes and restaurants around Mexico for serving the most important ingredient in a meal–tortillas. 

  9. La Catrina– The icon of Día de los Muertos, the Catrina skeleton was actually the creation of Mexican graphic artist José Guadalupe Posada and it had nothing to do with Day of the Dead. With her fancy dress and hat, he drew her as a political statement to say to Mexicans who aspire to be like wealthy Europeans– that we humans are all the same. Rich or poor, we are of flesh and bones and will all die someday.

  10. La Caja/BOX–This is a jewelry box, brightly painted in a style similar to the wood batea (“tray or bowl”) known by collectors of Mexican folk art. One of the finest artisans to create this art was Antonio Anita Mejia of Quiroga, whose work is shown in museums in Mexico and Europe. He passed away in 2020 but his family continues his legacy.

  11. La Cazuela/CASSEROLE–This style of pottery and cookware is used throughout Mexico and the United States. It is made in Capula, a town also known for its clay Catrinas. One can serve food in it, but its main use is for cooking stews and rice.

  12. La Cruz/CROSS–Milagros means “miracles” in English, and they are little charms that are used in Catholic churches across Mexico and a few other countries. The small metal milagros can be parts of the body, farm animals,or important crops like corn. The devout will use milagros to pray for miracles. A couple of decades ago some artists in Mexico began making folk art pieces with milagros that included wood crosses much like this one.

  13. La Máscara/MASK–Most masks in Mexico are carved out of wood and are brightly painted. They are often used in religious celebrations and dances, not just for decoration. The best masks can take months to make and can be found in museums and the homes of folk art collectors around the world.

  14. La Guitarra/GUITAR–Most people don’t think of guitars as folk art, but in Paracho, Michoacán where Mexico’s guitars are made, guitar craft is definitely an art. As a matter of fact, every year the town celebrates with an internationally known guitar festival where prizes are awarded to craftsmen who produce quality handmade guitars in their small workshops for musicians at all levels.

  15. La Muñeca/DOLL–The cloth doll here is known as Lele and is said to have originated in the state of Querétero. She is sitting on a miniature painted wood chair from Michoacán. 

  16. La Olla/POT–Clay pots have been used all over Mexico for cooking and also storing grains and water. This pot is burnished and handpainted in the village of Huancito where artisans make them so they can be stacked as towers. The artist who made this is Elena Felipe Felix who is in the book Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art.

  17. El Ángel/ANGEL–Artisans in Mexico make angels and other religious symbols out of wood, straw, corn, and clay. This clay angel was made in Ocumicho, Michoacán by Adelaida Pascual.

  18. El Espejo/MIRROR–Wood carvers make sculptures, spoons, masks and furniture in various villages of Michoacán and their picture and mirror frames are especially beautiful.

  19. El Cráneo/SKULL– Artisans make skulls out of paper maché and clay throughout Mexico, but this one made in Capula, Michoacán honors the Monarch butterfly. Every year millions of butterflies migrate to spend the winter in the butterfly sanctuaries of Michoacán and El Estado de Mexico.

  20. El Molinillo/CHOCOLATE BEATER–This traditional kitchen tool is used to beat and froth hot cocoa, an ancient blender that is handmade by artisans today. 

  21. El Plato/PLATE–There are so many styles of pottery in Mexico and though much of it is used to serve meals in homes throughout Mexico, a lot of the pottery is truly art that requires a great deal of creativity and talent. Collectors display their favorite styles on shelves and walls, and many acquire Mexican ceramics to make their kitchens and dining tables more beautiful.

  22. La Bolsa/PURSE–This particular woven bag is called a “morral” in Michoacán. It was woven on a backstrap loom in the village of Cuanajo where designs are passed down from generation to generation.

  23. Las Maracas/MARACAS– There is no reason to translate this instrument as most of us are familiar with its sound! This pair was carved and painted by an artisan in the mountains of Michoacán.

  24. Los Aretes/EARRINGS– Mexican artisans produce so many beautiful styles of jewelry, most notably the silversmiths. But there is also an abundance of jewelry made using gold, tin, beads, and semi-precious stones. These earrings were made using the ancient technique called “laca” in Patzcuaro, Michoacán, where the artist painted freehand on copper.

How to play Lotería: https://www.loteriastudio.com/blog/ways-to-win-loteria

You can purchase sets of our Lotería on our website here: