Alebrije with Seashell

Alebrije, Mexican paper mache sculpture — Felipe Linares

This piece is a hybrid creature that synthesizes, like every great alebrije, the impossible fusion of multiple species into a single fantastic being. The animal advances in a stalking attitude, with its body low and its four legs flexed, conveying tension and contained movement despite being a static work.

The head is the focal point of the piece: a face with canine-reptilian features, covered in blue scales mottled in a gradient towards the snout, opens into disproportionate jaws that display a complete row of sharp white teeth. A red forked tongue emerges from the mouth, in direct contrast with the cold tone of the facial skin. A pair of long, curved, delicate black whiskers project forward like those of a catfish or a Chinese dragon, bringing lightness to the ensemble despite the visual weight of the jaws.

The horns, large and upwardly curved like those of a bull, are decorated with a scaled pattern in ochre, gold, and sienna tones, textured with the meticulous brushwork characteristic of Linares' paper mache.

The shell or carapace, which gives the piece its name, covers the animal's back as a protective shield — a clear reference to a turtle —, executed with a metallic and earthy finish that contrasts with the chromatic explosion of the rest of the body.

The body combines the muscular anatomy of a wolf with sharp, prominent white claws on all four limbs. The chest features a plate of fiery red scales, while the rest of the skin is resolved into a mosaic of geometric patterns in silver, black, ochre, and red, typical of the decorative pointillism of the Linares family.

The tail, perhaps the most sculptural element of the piece along with the horns, curls in an ascending spiral like that of a dragon, covered with green and yellow scales that lighten towards the tip, finished with orange dorsal crests.

The result is a creature that simultaneously evokes the dragon, the turtle, the wolf, and the bull — a zoomorphic synthesis that embodies the very essence of the alebrije as a dream made material.

PROVENANCE AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Alebrije with Shell is one of the most recent large alebrijes made by Felipe Linares, son of Don Pedro Linares, and one of the most prolific members of the family. Don Felipe has held the most exhibitions outside the country, bringing alebrijes to their recognized worldwide fame.

MEASUREMENTS

Width: 55 cm
Height: 55 cm
Length: 100 cm

CARE

To preserve the beauty and integrity of this piece, we recommend handling it with care. As it is a papier-mâché work, avoid contact with water or moisture — it should never be washed —; clean it only with a soft duster or a dry cloth, without rubbing. Keep it away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent discoloration of the pigments, and store it in a stable, dry, and moisture-free environment. When moving it, always hold it from its base or main body, avoiding applying pressure on horns, whiskers, claws, or other delicate and protruding elements.

DESIGN

The Linares family's commitment to excellence goes beyond materials; it encompasses the art and artisanal mastery present in every piece we create.