Whimsical Cat-Themed Ceramic Wall Art from Mexico, "Bow Tie Cat"

Wearing a bow tie, a whimsical cat is depicted using colorful designs that resemble patchwork. Mexican artisan Maria Isabel Cruz creates this piece of ceramic wall art in the centuries-old style known as the dry rope technique, in which a wax mixture made of magnesium oxide and fat are applied to the outlines of the image or motif prior to glazing. The wax mixture creates a barrier that keeps the different fill colors in the design separate during firing, before burning off to reveal the blackened ceramic beneath. A length of nylon cord on the back provides for easy hanging.