Nearly Two Feet of Hand-Carved Oaxacan Mastery
This monumental praying mantis is hand-carved and painted by David Blas, a master folk artist from the Oaxacan Valley of Southern Mexico — where the ancient Zapotec tradition of Copal wood carving has produced some of the world's most extraordinary folk art for generations.
A Sculpture That Commands the Room
At 18¾" tall and 2½" wide, this is not a shelf trinket — it is a sculpture. David Blas begins with raw Copal wood from the hills surrounding the valley, shaping this towering figure by hand with machetes and pocket knives before spending days hand-sanding and painting every angular limb, joint, and surface in vivid, meticulous detail. The mantis's dramatic upright posture and extraordinary height give it a presence that rivals gallery-quality work.
- Hand-carved from Copal wood by David Blas of Oaxaca
- Painted entirely by hand with bold, intricate color and pattern from base to tip
- An original artwork — no two pieces are identical
- 18¾" tall × 2½" wide — a monumental, gallery-worthy centerpiece
- A rare collector's piece with significant potential to appreciate in value
For the Collector Who Wants the Extraordinary
Pieces of this scale and quality from a named Oaxacan artist are exceptionally rare. David Blas's mantis is the kind of work that defines a collection — a conversation piece, an heirloom, and a testament to one of the world's great living folk art traditions.
EarthView sources only the finest carvings directly from the best artists in the Oaxacan Valley — this is authentic folk art, not a reproduction.
Oaxacan is pronounced "Wa-Haw-Ken."