Hand-Carved Large Burro Sculpture
Brimming with festive village magic and ceremonial grandeur, this impressive wood donkey sculpture is a triumph of Mexican folk art from the Alto Balsas highlands. Sculpted from native zompantle wood by master artisans Óscar and Carlos López Mota, the piece feels like a storybook creature brought to life—adorned with a hand-carved saddle, fluttering satin streamers, miniature brass bells, and intricate fine-line floral brushwork. Every inch reflects the whimsical pageantry and ceremonial spirit of traditional Guerrero festival dances. Designed as a focal collector piece, it brings an enchanting, heritage-rich presence and joyful narrative charm to a mantlepiece, sideboard, or entry display.
One-of-a-Kind Works: Each piece is entirely unique. Select an edition below to view and purchase the exact piece shown in the photo.
- Dimensions: Edition No. 01 — 12"W x 15"H x 5"D (approx.) | Edition No. 02 — 12"W x 13"H x 5"D (approx.)
- Origin: Xalitla, Guerrero, México
- Artisans: Óscar and Carlos López Mota
- Material: 100% Hand-Carved Zompantle Wood, Hand-Painted Mineral & Acrylic Pigments, Satin Ribbons, Metal Bells, Natural Horsehair/Cowhair (Crin)
Handcrafted in Xalitla, Guerrero, this piece was created by brothers Óscar and Carlos López Mota. As third-generation Náhuatl artists guided from childhood by their grandparents, Óscar and Carlos mastered wood carving, amate paper painting, and clay sculpture from an early age. In Guerrero, wooden mask making is a revered ceremonial tradition deeply tied to indigenous village life, ritual dances, and seasonal agricultural rites—historically hand-carved from soft native woods like zompantle. In Xalitla, this sculptural art form transforms into a vivid storytelling canvas, where the Mota brothers paint intricate, miniature scenes and mesmerizing fine-line patterns in luminous detail. Today, as recognized community leaders, they actively teach their craft to new generations, preserving the rich Náhuatl cultural legacy of the Alto Balsas region.
Dispatch: Hand-packed with care and leaves our US studio in 1–2 business days. Please visit our Shipping Information page for more details.
Safe Journey Guarantee: We take full responsibility for the journey. In the rare event that your treasure arrives damaged, we provide a replacement or full refund.
Change of Mind: We want you to love your find. Most items are eligible for returns within 30 days of delivery. Please visit our Return Policy page for more information.
Artisan Nature: Because our pieces are handcrafted, please embrace the minor variations and imperfections that make your item one-of-a-kind.
Sending as a gift? Add your personal message in the Shopping Cart, and we’ll include a beautiful gift card for your recipient. Every Eterna Home treasure also arrives with its own Heritage Note—a hand-marked record identifying the specific artisan studio and Mexican region where your piece was born.
