Tonahli Crafts is a small Mexican business run by Lilia Quiroz Montano. Trained as an architect, Ms. Montano splits her time between architectural assignments, pet rescue activities and the craft business known as Tonahli. The artisans that paint the pottery are Aztec descendants living high in the mountains. They do not speak Spanish and rarely come down into contact with other Mexicans. Ms. Montano drives to them and picks up the art work which she then markets in Mexico and other countries, including Italy and the United States. The Best of Europe is Tonahli Crafts' U.S. distributor for wholesale sales.
The state of Guerrero lies between Mexico City and Acapulco. The local Nahua live in a series of villages pre-dating the Spanish conquest. Virtually everyone in these villages learns to paint at a very young age. The best of these artisans have been selected and employed by Tonahli Crafts and their art work, done entirely by hand, is exquisite. Pieces have been sold through The Smithsonian as well as through National Geographic.
While this traditional painting, and other crafts, are the main livelihood of the Nahua, it is possible that someday the Indian community will become transformed by time. Tonahli Crafts has as its core philosophy a desire to not only to help the artisans as people but to help them preserve their history and traditions as seen through their art. |
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