Tinwork Santa in hot air balloon

Description:	Originally, gold, silver and copper were the only metals used by craftsmen in Mexico. Tin, although easily accessible, was used only sparingly as currency. Due to the influence of the Spanish following their conquest of Mexico (1519-1521), tin became a material regularly used to create decorative art. Its light weight and flexibility made it an ideal metal for craft. Soon after the conquest, Mexican Indians started using tin to meet their spiritual needs by creating objects that combined their spiritual beliefs with Catholicism. Many created beautiful nichos, decorative boxes that held images of saints. Today, the city of San Miguel de Allende is the center for tinwork production in Mexico. Artisans make everything from lanterns to nichos to decorative mirrors to Christmas decorations like this painted Santa.
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/432
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Geography:	Mexico
Subjects:	Tin Tinsmithing Santa Claus Hot air balloons Mexico Oaxaca (Mexico : State) Santa Claus in art San Miguel de Allende (Mexico)

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