Brown Bear with Fish by Manuel Jimenez (1919-2005), Mexico

Brown Bear with Fish, c. 1990by Manuel Jimenez (1919-2005) in collaboration with his sons Angelico and Isaias Jimenez San Antonio Arrazola, Oaxaca, Mexicocopal wood, pigment9.5” high x 18” long x 9.5” deephand signed underneath Manuel Jiménez Ramírez, who lived into his 80’s until his death in 2005, is credited as the originator of the woodcarving genre of folk art in San Antonio Arrazola, Oaxaca, and derived great satisfaction from his popularity with collectors all over the world.  Dignified, hard-working and proud, Manuel was best known for his animals, angels, shepherds, kings and Christ figures, pieces bold in shape, size and painting style. To distinguish himself from the carvers who came after him, his later work was in the finer Guatemalan cedar, rather than local copal wood. Jiménez Ramírez is credited with creating the Oaxacan version of “alebrijes.” The original craft was created and promoted by the Linares family in Mexico City, making fantastic creatures of “cartonería” (a