Dance of The Dead Retablo

Produced in the highlands of Peru, retablos are miniature portable shrines — deeply rooted in the Ayacucho tradition — that traditionally portrayed religious and everyday life scenes in intricately arranged boxes.

This particular scene is a fascinating example of how folk art updates to reflect contemporary situations, depicting here a modern day vision of the pandemic.
As masked skeleton pallbearers carry a coffin on their shoulders, jubilant spirits fly away above, a glass and a bottle in each hand. The piece shouldn't be seen as poking fun at the loss or sadness that the time brought, instead it continues in the tradition of the Day of The Dead festivities as a joyful remembrance of friends and family.

Lovingly handcrafted by skilled artisans in Peru, this retablo is a Fair Trade treasure that honours tradition and supports ethical artistry.