**Originally Listed At $2000**

Purportedly by a member of the Linares family (Mexican, 20th century). Three mariachi calaca figures, cartoneria (papier mache). Prepare yourself for a bone-rattling, rib-tickling performance like no other! Presenting the world's most skeletal sensation: The Mariachi Muertos! In the whimsical world of cartoneria, where skeletons are made from papier mache, these 3 Day of the Dead calacas are not here to cause a fright, but instead to excite with their spook-tacular tunes and ghoulish grins. Adorned in giant sombreros, oversized moustaches, and charro suits, the near life-size band is comprised of a strumming guitarist, a fiddling violinist, and a tooting trumpeter. The 2 string-players sing a festive tune as the brass maestro blasts out notes with such fervor that you'd think the gates of the underworld were about to swing open to join the fiesta! Size of largest (all are similar in size): 34.1" L x 27.5" W x 57.5" H (86.6 cm x 69.8 cm x 146 cm); 58" H (147.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Pedro Linares and his three sons as well as several grandsons create their traditional papier mache calaveras figures in Mexico City. These figures are quite popular during the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday - a celebration to honor the lives of deceased ancestors. According to the Fowler Museum at UCLA, "Beginning as makers of local fiesta props, the Linares family of artists now specializes in one-of-a-kind sculptures sought after by collectors and museums. Some of the family?s most expressive sculptures are inspired by the skeletal figures of the graphic art of Jos? Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913), regularly published in news broadsheets around the beginning of the twentieth century. In his lively visual commentaries Posada satirized contemporary issues, particularly during the annual Days of the Dead, a time traditionally rife with political and social satire."

Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing only 1 of these figures rather than the complete trio.

Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection, acquired from 1964 to the mid-1990s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#181895

Gold-colored trim and sequins were added by previous owner. Skeletons are removable from stands and all instruments and hats are removable. Small indentation and tear to shoe of trumpet player. Some minor nicks and abrasions to shoes and remains of sticky tack adhesive on tops of heads and inside of hats. Otherwise, all 3 are intact and excellent with impressively preserved pigments and detail.