Made in Mexico: Segunda Parte (Part 2)

Here's part one, where I talk about all the things I love about Mexican decor and all the things I hate about bloggers.

One time I was in a Goodwill in Toronto and I came across a large hand-carved wood mirror made in Mexico for $10; it was very rough and crude but I loved it. My boyfriend at the time hated it, said it looked like a child made it, and we left empty-handed. On the drive home, he saw how bummed I was so we went back, but it was gone. Only 8 minutes had passed but 8 minutes was enough time for another woman to snap it up. I saw it in her cart and I stalked her through the store in hopes that she would put the mirror back but she never did. I've always regretted that decision because I have yet to see another piece like it since, even on the internet.

I also highly regret not buying a box of Amate paintings at a swap meet when I lived in Joshua Tree.

They were $4-$20 per sheet, depending on the size. I didn't have a lot of money on me so I bought a small one for $4. They are, of course, worth more than that. The next weekend I decided I was going to purchase more but the vendor was no longer there. I have bad luck with Mexican home furnishings.

But then I found this piece at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store the other day.

Stamped Hecho en Mexico, which means Made in Mexico. $100.

It was hubby's and my first time going to one of their retail stores and we couldn't believe our luck finding something so great on the first go. When I got hom, I did a quick google search of Mexican coffee tables and a whole bunch of contemporary stuff popped up that looked identical to it, which made me nervous.

La Fuente Imports, US$395

Rustic Sierras Furniture

San Carlos Imports, US$359.99

Even though all of the above pieces were handmade, I was beginning to feel like maybe what I'd found wasn't as unique of a find as I thought. But then hubby, who was an experimental blacksmith as a youth (he made knives and armor for fun) and still dabbles in metallurgy, told me that the hardware was solid iron, old, and organically aged. He also said that the pine was legitimately aged too, so phew.

Mine definitely had more in common with older pieces. Perhaps not antique, but still older.

This guy's going on Kijiji in Guelph for $100.

There are also a lot of new pieces that used naturally aged hardware so I was on the hunt for more unique pieces and older wood.

Pine patina

Off-centered metal band and medallion latch

Much older oak piece but similar round latch

I should've known myself, everything speaks to me of handmade: it has non-symmetrically forged handles, the hinges aren't lined up, the latches are also asymmetrical and kind of wonky, the wood is incredibly thick and there's build-up and scunge in between the grain, and the patina of the metal is substantial and solid - petrified - the way organic substances are when nature and time erodes it over the ages.

It lacks a uniformity of newer pieces.

I'm having a Rachel in Friends moment, when she believes that hers and Phoebe's apothecary table is the original piece of furniture on which the Pottery Barn repros are based. "Ours is the real one."

I can only hope that mine's legit.

- J

Made in Mexico: Primera Parte (Part 1)

I adore Mexican decor, especially their furniture. Natural wood, rustic, robust, simple. And I love their whimsical use of color. Unfortunately, not a lot of used stuff from Mexico makes its way up in these parts of Canada.

Lots of untouched, unfinished wood. I love the natural finish but as I learned from hubby, the climate is too humid up here to not seal pine as it will eventually rot, but say, somewhere in the Southwest where it's dry, you can let the beautiful natural wood shine. 

I've seen some upcycled antique Mexican pieces on the internet and I think it's a shame. I feel the same way about a lacquered wood hutch as I do about a beautiful woman getting a nosejob or collagen injections.

Talavera pottery and ceramic tiles. I actually collected a couple vintage ones when I was in California but I can't wait until I have a full collection. NB: Talavera uses a lot of blues and warm colors. The more kalaidoscopic colors are most likely Spanish.

Hand-painted furniture and bowls.

Otomi textiles.

Oaxacan textiles.

Chiapas textiles

NB. There are some lazy bloggers out there, particularly ones who are in the professional field of home decor, who don't pay attention to the origins of the items or subjects that they write about. They feign knowledge and throw around information like it's last season's accessory. Not only do I think it's lazy but I think it's irresponsible and egotistical on the part of the writer. These people clearly have the confidence to spout out bullshit without doing a self-imposed fact check.

For instance, women who write a post about how to add color to your home; they dedicate an entire section to Mexican fabrics and how much they love Mexican blankets, and they'll post a photo with a source link to a website, and the post on that website will be titled "From Peru" and it will discuss textiles...you guessed it...from Peru!

Here's the photo that I see gets mislabeled the most, mostly on Pinterest, but also on several lifestyle blogs.

Peruvian blankets.

And then you get people who see this photo and make comments like "I love the Mexican blankets! The ethnic look is really in!" And it makes me wonder, perhaps the author is at fault but isn't the reader also? 

I mean, I saw the photo, I questioned the caption, I looked into its veracity, and I learned that the author was incorrect, and I, as the reader, have done my due diligence. Unless these people don't actually give a shit and are simply distracted by bright pretty colors! As long as ethnic is in, Mexico and Peru are just interchangeable nations, I guess. 

Part 2: The Mexican coffee table I found!

- J