Oaxacan alebrijes could be declared a tangible and intangible heritage of Oaxaca through a proposal by legislator Toribio López Sánchez, from the district of Santa Cruz Xoxoxcotlán. The lawmaker presented the initiative before the LXII legislature of the Congress of the State of Oaxaca.
If the proposal is approved, both the alebrijes and its elaboration process would be declared a cultural heritage of Oaxaca. The municipalities declared as pioneers in its development would be San Antonio Arrazola, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, and San Martín Tilcajete, Ocotlán.
For artisans, the declaration of cultural heritage would grant the production of these unique crafts the place and recognition they deserve.
Although traditionally these figures made with wood began their production in San Martín Tilcajete and Arrazola in Santa Cruz Xoxoxcotlán, at the moment their craftsmanship is concentrated in several municipalities around the Oaxacan capital.
Markets and galleries are identified as the distribution spaces and points of sale where they are most frequently located.
Depending on the size, the alebrijes can have a minimum cost of $25 pesos. But, depending on the complexity of its preparation, prices can amount to several thousand pesos.
In addition, its value is determined by the type of figure, the pieces that make it up and the amount of paint that was invested in its decoration.