Otomí Ritual Papel Picado Wall Art – Handcrafted Bark Paper Mandala – Mexican Folk Art 23x23 in" (Unframed)

Craft Amate® — Lord of the Chayote: Otomí Ritual Cut-Paper Art on Bark Paper Square Panel 24" x 24" (60 x 60 cm) — Natural White Jonote & Mustard Morera Bark — Unframed ©️ At the center of this piece lives the Lord of the Chayote, one of the spiritual figures that Otomí communities in the Sierra Norte de Puebla have cut into bark paper for generations as part of their agricultural rituals — petitions for rain, protection of the harvest, and gratitude to the land. This isn't a decorative pattern. It's a named figure within a living cosmology. This piece combines two different tree barks, each processed in its own way: The outer frame, in natural white, is made from Jonote bark, carved by hand with a spiral relief border and radiating linear bands that fan outward from the center. The central disc, in a natural mustard tone, is made from Morera (wild fig) bark, hand-cut using the traditional Otomí papel picado technique — a demanding, precision-based process where every line and petal is cut directly into the bark itself, freehand, with no printed stencil. Between the two, a ring of hand-knotted fringe (fine macramé worked directly into the bark fiber) frames the central figure — a technical detail that adds significant time to the piece and is rarely seen in commercial work. Why this piece stands apart: Most bark paper art sold today is painted. This piece is cut — every negative space you see was removed by hand, shape by shape, directly from natural bark. It's one of the oldest and least-documented expressions of Otomí art still practiced today. Our process photos — including the artisan pressing the finished piece with a traditional volcanic stone — show the real labor behind it, not just the finished result. Origin and technique: Handmade in San Pablito, Puebla, by Otomí artisans with generations of experience in both bark paper (amate) and ritual papel picado. The process includes harvesting and boiling the Jonote and Morera bark, hand-cutting the central figure, layering and assembling the piece, and traditional stone-pressing to finish. For your space: A square format that works as a standalone statement piece — above a sofa, in an entryway, or as a cultural focal point in boho, rustic-modern, or gallery-style interiors. The white-and-mustard palette adds warmth without overwhelming the room. 🖼 Available framed (pine, ask about finishes) or unframed 📦 Insured shipping via DHL or FedEx ✔️ Customizable in size or color on request 🌱 Your purchase supports Jonote and Morera reforestation and directly sustains Otomí artisan families 📖 Amate bark paper legally protected by the Otomí community since 2007 Craft Amate®