Curing Set (Cuadrilla)

NameSculpture

Artist Darío Soteno Léon (died 2005)

Date1997

Place madeMetepec, Mexico, Mexico, North America

MediumCeramic, whitewash, acrylic paint

Dimensionsa. sick person-crying woman: 3 3/4 × 2 3/16 × 1 3/16 in. (9.5 × 5.5 × 3 cm)
b. man on horseback: 12 1/2 × 8 7/16 × 4 7/16 in. (31.7 × 21.5 × 11.2 cm)
c. lady on horseback: 10 1/8 × 8 7/16 × 5 5/16 in. (25.7 × 21.5 × 13.5 cm)
d. Saint Gabriel: 6 7/8 × 2 9/16 × 2 3/8 in. (17.4 × 6.5 × 6 cm)
e. priest: 6 3/4 × 2 9/16 × 2 3/16 in. (17.1 × 6.5 × 5.5 cm)
f. old man with incense burner: 7 11/16 × 3 3/4 × 2 1/4 in. (19.6 × 9.5 × 5.7 cm)
g. female helper: 6 15/16 × 2 11/16 × 1 9/16 in. (17.7 × 6.8 × 4 cm)
h. female helper: 7 7/16 × 3 1/8 × 1 15/16 in. (18.9 × 7.9 × 5 cm)
i. female with cross: 3 3/4 × 1 15/16 × 1 9/16 in. (9.6 × 5 × 3.9 cm)
j. female with candle: 3 3/4 × 2 1/16 × 1 3/16 in. (9.5 × 5.3 × 3 cm)
k. female with candle: 4 × 2 3/16 × 1 9/16 in. (10.2 × 5.5 × 3.9 cm)
l. old man with cane: 7 1/16 × 3 13/16 × 2 13/16 in. (18 × 9.7 × 7.1 cm)
m. woman with wreath: 4 1/8 × 2 1/8 × 1 7/16 in. (10.5 × 5.4 × 3.7 cm)
n. woman with wreath: 4 1/8 × 2 3/8 × 1 5/8 in. (10.5 × 6 × 4.2 cm)
o. musician with mandolin: 5 5/16 × 3 1/16 × 2 1/4 in. (13.5 × 7.8 × 5.7 cm)
p. musician with drum: 5 11/16 × 3 3/8 × 2 9/16 in. (14.5 × 8.5 × 6.5 cm)
q. musician with horn: 5 7/16 × 2 15/16 × 2 1/16 in. (13.8 × 7.5 × 5.2 cm)
r. musician with clarinet: 4 15/16 × 2 15/16 × 2 1/4 in. (12.5 × 7.5 × 5.7 cm)
s. couple dancing: 7 11/16 × 6 15/16 × 3 9/16 in. (19.5 × 17.7 × 9 cm)
t. woman holding platter of fruit: 3 3/4 × 2 3/16 × 1 7/16 in. (9.5 × 5.5 × 3.7 cm)
u. woman holding lamb: 3 11/16 × 2 × 1 9/16 in. (9.3 × 5.1 × 3.9 cm)
v. woman making tortillas: 3 1/2 × 2 3/8 × 2 3/16 in. (8.9 × 6 × 5.5 cm)
w. metate y mano: 1 3/8 × 1 13/16 × 2 1/16 in. (3.5 × 4.6 × 5.2 cm)
x. comal with tortillas: 1 7/16 × 2 5/8 in. (3.6 × 6.6 cm)
y. basket with tortillas: 1 9/16 × 1 15/16 in. (3.9 × 4.9 cm)
z. bowl: 11/16 × 2 1/8 in. (1.8 × 5.4 cm)
aa. bowl: 9/16 × 2 in. (1.5 × 5.1 cm)
aab. mortar and pestle: 1 3/8 × 1 3/4 × 1 3/4 in. (3.5 × 4.4 × 4.4 cm)
aac. rainbow: 4 1/8 × 5 1/16 × 1 3/8 in. (10.5 × 12.9 × 3.5 cm)
aad. whirlwind: 7 9/16 × 2 3/16 × 1 3/4 in. (19.2 × 5.5 × 4.5 cm)
aae. coyote with bird in mouth: 3 1/2 × 1 9/16 × 3 11/16 in. (8.9 × 3.9 × 9.3 cm)
aaf. lamb: 2 3/8 × 1 3/8 × 4 in. (6 × 3.5 × 10.2 cm)
aag. ram: 3 1/8 × 1 9/16 × 3 1/2 in. (8 × 3.9 × 8.9 cm)
aah. lizard: 1 7/16 × 1 1/8 × 3 3/8 in. (3.6 × 2.9 × 8.6 cm)
aai. lizard: 1 3/4 × 7/8 × 3 9/16 in. (4.5 × 2.2 × 9 cm)
aaj. snake: 13/16 × 1 1/2 × 2 5/16 in. (2.1 × 3.8 × 5.8 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, IFAF Collection, FA.2014.27.3a-aa-j

Object numberFA.2014.27.3a-aa-j

DescriptionThirty-six piece curing set includes: a) Sick woman (crying): has long black hair under a spreading black veil that hangs just below her shoulders; arms curve up under veil with hands in front of the face; figure leans slightly backwards above an oval stand; back is flattened; white figure and stand spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. b) Man on horseback: seated on three-legged horse with head and torso turned toward viewer; arms curved broadly forward in front of chest; a green, yellow, and red hat curves to a point above the right side of his head; horse has flesh-colored muzzle, one ear, and long tail spiraling down rump to middle of back leg; backsides of horse and man are concave; bodies of horse and man, as well as base, are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. c) Woman on horseback: arms are extended in a broad curve in front of body, she rides sidesaddle on a three-legged horse; back of horse is concave, interior of woman's long dress is hollow; horse has one pointed ear, flesh-colored muzzle, and flowing tail extending down rump to top of back leg; woman wears green and red cap curving to a point at right; woman's dress, horse, and base, are white with large, overlapping spots of red, yellow, and green paint daubed on. d) Saint Gabriel: standing figure of man with long black hair wearing wings; green, yellow, and red hat extends high above head, curving to right and coming to a point; figure uses proper right hand with thumb extended to grasp strap that crosses chest and wraps around waist; proper left arm rests at side; figure, wings, and base are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint against a white background; back of figure is concave. e) Priest: figure holding large, open black bible in front of chest; wears a long, black pleated skirt and black hat with tall crown and up-turned brim as well as a white shirt spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint; he stands on a white, oval base daubed with the same three colors. f) Old man with incense burner: Standing man with black hair angling across forehead and black goatee; he holds a large hourglass-shaped black object in his proper right hand; his left hand rests on his hip; he wears a full-length white suit spotted with large, daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. g) Female helper: woman with arms curving forward from shoulders; proper left hand curves in toward neck; long black hair is very full, parted at top of forehead, and falls onto back of shoulders; she wears a three-pointed half-crown with three large green spots on a yellow base; points are red; white figure and oval base are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. h) Female helper: woman with lips turned downward at corners. Open arms curve broadly forward from shoulders; hair curves across forehead, falling behind head to base of neck; she wears a tall half-crown with three points; crown has three connected green spots against a white background at base; points are yellow at bottom with red tips, also against a white background; dress, feet, and base are all spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. i) Woman holding cross: woman with black hair falling over the front of her shouldets holds large cross; proper left hand is just below intersection of shaft and crossbar; proper right hand is in middle of lower section of shaft; this woman's full pleated skirt is shortest of all the figures in this group; white figure, cross, and base are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. j) Female with candle: woman with shoulder-length black hair parted at center of forehead holds very long, tapering candle; hands around candle touch; proper left hand above proper right hand; figure has flat back and stands on an oval base; white figure and candle spotted with large, daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. k) Female with candle: Woman with black hair parted sharply at top of forehead and extending to just below shoulders at back; back curves in at shoulder blades and is flat below to where it curves out at feet of figure; woman holds very long, tapering candle; proper right hand holds top of candle and proper left hand holds candle just below middle; figure, candle, and oval base are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. l) Old man with cane: male with black hair and goatee holding cane in proper right hand; he is stooped forward and holds proper left hand folded against hip; man's high-necked jacket, tight pants, and cane with handle are all white; they are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint; large base of figure is also white and daubed with the same colors. m) Woman with wreath: female peers through large black wreath held close to face; two long thin black supporting poles hang down from wreath towards oval base; pole on right almost touches base; woman has black hair; sad expression on face; wears pleated skirt; back flattened; hands prominent at bottom of wreath; figure and base spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. n) Woman with wreath: Woman on oval stand holding black wreath; black wreath has two long thin black supporting poles; woman wears pleated skirt; black hair hangs just below shoulders; white eyes with black pupils; flat hands prominent in front of base of wreath; back of woman flattened; feet large; clothing and stand beneath figure are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. o) Musician with mandolin: musician seated on single long support holding mandolin; four shallow indentations in neck of mandolin above proper right hand; musician wears sombrero with tall crown and narrow, up-turned brim; black hair rounded at nape of neck; he gazes downward; white figure, support, mandolin, and sombrero spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. p) Musician with drum: musician seated on single long support plays narrow drum with broad drumsticks; musician wears sombrero with tall crown and narrow up-turned brim; back is flattened; black hair squared off at nape of neck; musician gazes down and towards proper left; eyelash on proper right eye slightly smudged; white figure, sombrero, drum, and drumsticks are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. q) Musician with horn: Musician seated on single, long support plays saxophone; daub of red paint on opening at end of instrument; musician wears sombrero with tall crown and narrow, up-turned brim; black hair extends in a straight line around head and neck from just behind middle of cheeks; white figure, support, sombrero, and instrument are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. r) Musician with clarinet: musician plays clarinet with two small holes in front of hands--- one small hole between hands and another small hole above proper left hand; musician gazes downward; pupil of proper left eye enlarged; musician wears sombrero with high crown and narrow up-turned brim; white figure, sombrero, and clarinet are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. s) Dancing couple: woman with black hair wearing long gown dances with tall man with black hair and goatee wearing waist-coat; man leans forward to put arm around woman's shoulders; woman has arm around man's back; figures face outwards with man's proper right and woman's proper left hand meeting palm-to-palm; figures and base are white and spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint; back of female figure is concave. t) Woman holding plate of fruit: Woman with eyes downcast to proper left; she holds tray of fruit including a pineapple, melon, and three lemons; she wears a long veil over her long black hair; white veil and fruit are daubed with paint; upright leaves at top of pineapple displace veil on proper right side; woman's clothing, base, veil, and fruit are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. u) Woman holding lamb: woman with long black hair falling in front of shoulders holding young lamb; woman wears a long white veil falling over the tips of her arms, daubed with paint; white lamb is also daubed with paint, has rear legs folded forward, front legs folded back, and faces away from woman; front of lamb's muzzle is painted the same flesh color as woman's face and hands; woman's clothing, base, veil, and lamb are all white and are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. v) Woman making tortillas: woman with long black hair descending down concave back of head; back of body and skirt are also concave; no base; figure leans forward holding tortilla vertically in hands extended in front of chest; tortilla is yellowish-brown; clothing of figure is white, spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. w) Metate and mano: black oblong metate with three stout legs; black cylindrical mano rests at top of flattened mass of yellowish-brown flour on surface of metate. x) Comal with tortillas: flat, black comal with three stout legs; white surface holds three yellowish-brown tortillas. y) Basket with tortillas: golden yellow woven basket covered with white cloth; four overlapping, yellowish-brown tortillas spread out on top. z) Bowl: white bowl spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint on inside and outside. aa) Bowl: bowl with diamond grid across interior; white interior and exterior are spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. aa-b) Mortar and pestle: deep bowl with three stout legs and cone in center; all elements are white with overlapping spots of large, daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. aa-c) Rainbow: tall, thin yellow arch with red and green lateral stripes; broad bases at both ends of arch; inside edges of arch bend slightly inwards, forming a horseshoe shape. aa-d) Whirlwind: tall, thin spiral tapering towards top; base and spiral are streaked with yellow and black. aa-e) Coyote with bird in mouth: white coyote spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint holds white bird in mouth; coyote has thick, pointed ears and long tail undulating down back of proper right rear leg; one wing of bird hangs from front of coyote's mouth; tail of bird protrudes from proper right side of mouth and head with upturned beak sticks out on opposite side. aa-f) Lamb: lamb with flesh-colored muzzle laying down in upright position with rear legs folded under torso towards front and front legs extended forward; thick ears protrude out from head; head, body, legs, and short tail are white and spotted with large, overlapping daubs of red, yellow, and green paint. aa-g)Ram: standing ram with flesh-colored muzzle and long yellow horns extending up from top of head and curving straight down on proper right side of head; short, thick tail hangs down from rump bending once as it tapers to a point at top of proper left leg of animal. aa-h) Lizard: lizard with wide-opened, flesh-colored mouth; body, legs, and tail are white; back is streaked with black; the eyes are represented by deep circular indentations with points at the bottom; black marking inside both eyeholes at front. aa-i) Lizard: lizard with wide-opened, flesh-colored mouth; body, legs, and tail are white; back is heavily streaked with black; eyes represented by deep circular indentations with points at the bottom; this lizard tends to fall forward on front feet and rests on lower jaw, but with care it can be balanced on a level surface. aa-j) Snake: snake with wide-opened mouth extending forward from a double coil; snake has large black eyes and a white body with green, red, and yellow stripes; interior of mouth is flesh-colored.