Pedro Linares (1906-1992), a renowned indigenous Mexican artist, was inspired to create alebrijes during an illness at the age of 30. During his sickness, he lost consciousness and dreamed of a bizarre, peaceful place that resembled a forest. He recounted seeing giant rocks, tall trees, and an expansive sky. The artist felt remarkably healthy again, and he felt happy as he walked along trails through the dense foliage of his dreamworld.

Suddenly, the clouds, rocks, and trees began to transform. The land features around him shaped themselves into animals that were familiar and yet like nothing Linares had ever seen before. There were mules with dragonfly wings, roosters with antlers, creatures that resembled gryphons and dragons, just to name a few. They had unnatural colors and patterns swirling over their bodies. These creatures began repeatedly chanting a single word: alebrije...alebrije...alebrije! Linares became fearful of these strange, powerful creatures chanting this nonsense word and startled awake in time for his fever to subside. After this episode, he first made his artful alebrijes out of paper maché and then used wood. 

Bring some color and fantasy into your world by bidding on this this wooden alebrije  representing a green dog.  Made in Oaxaca, Mexico, it stands approximately 9" tall.