Tonas and Nahuales
Woodcarved Zapotec figures
In 1994, the Jacobo and María Ángeles Workshop was founded in San Martín Tilcajete.
Thirty years ago, our town was not like it is today. At that time the main work was focused in the field, and very few were dedicated to wood carving. On the other hand, there was also a strong predisposition to migrate to the United States.
Despite these circumstances, the desire to undertake and rescue the ancestral practice of giving life to the tonas and nahuales through wood carving and hand-decoration. Little by little the workshop has been growing and developing the style that characterizes it, always with the objetive of innovating and reinventing themselves by working from the values of
community:
to teach, to share, to contribute.
We work 365 days a year with joy, responsibility and commitment. We serve visitors with warmth, sharing our processes and the human talent involved in the creation of the pieces.
WE ARE HAPPY TO WELCOME YOU HERE!
Our projects
Jacobo and María Ángeles Workshop
The Jacobo and María Ángeles workshop is dedicated to the production of carved figures made from copal wood called: Tonas and Nahuales.
Jacobo and María Ángeles Jewelry
The jewelry workshop started in 2011, as an opportunity to combine our knowledge in wood carving and the curiosity
to incorporate silver as a new material.
Mogote
High-temperature ceramics workshop dedicated to the production, experimentation, and teaching of the craft, based on the interest in clay and its possibilities, which has as principles the respect for nature and the dialogue between man and matter.
Palo que Habla
We are aware of the impact of the consumption of our main raw material: wood. For this reason, 19 years ago we created PQH, our bio-conservation program, which carries out an annual reforestation, water harvesting and planting of native corn.
Voces de Copal
A gallery of Mexican folk art that arises from the desire to exhibit our works and those of other Mexican artists.





