{"product_id":"oaxacan-praying-mantis-david-blas","title":"Oaxacan Praying Mantis Wood Carving by David Blas","description":"\u003ch2\u003eNearly Two Feet of Hand-Carved Oaxacan Mastery\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis monumental praying mantis is hand-carved and painted by \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Blas\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eA Sculpture That Commands the Room\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-carved from Copal wood by David Blas of Oaxaca\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePainted entirely by hand with bold, intricate color and pattern from base to tip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn original artwork — no two pieces are identical\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e18¾\" tall × 2½\" wide — a monumental, gallery-worthy centerpiece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA rare collector's piece with significant potential to appreciate in value\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor the Collector Who Wants the Extraordinary\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePieces 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEarthView sources only the finest carvings directly from the best artists in the Oaxacan Valley — this is authentic folk art, not a reproduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOaxacan is pronounced \"Wa-Haw-Ken.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Earthview","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48625321902272,"sku":null,"price":210.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0403\/4435\/4972\/files\/Screenshot2026-07-16150816.png?v=1784241304","url":"https:\/\/galleriaoccidental.com\/products\/oaxacan-praying-mantis-david-blas","provider":"Galleria  ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}