Bidspirit auction | Mexican Glazed Earthenware Church Luminaria

Mexican Glazed Earthenware Church Luminaria - A Mexican folk art pottery church or cathedral luminaria, constructed from hand-modeled and hand-painted glazed earthenware. The architectural form features a three-towered facade; the central section is topped with a dome and a cross, flanked by two taller lateral towers with belfries and spires, each capped with a cross. The belfries house small hanging ceramic bells. Perched on the exterior are hand-modeled birds and two star-shaped ornaments attached with metal wires to the spires. The structure includes three arched openings at the base and a hollow interior with a large circular ventilation hole on the underside, designed to accommodate a candle or light source. The piece is decorated with a multi-colored lead glaze in tones of yellow, green, and brown over an ochre ground. The lower facade and base are further embellished with hand-painted dark blue decorative motifs, including zig-zag borders, scrolling lines, and circular eye patterns. The underside shows a glazed terracotta surface with no visible maker marks, signatures, or factory stamps. Width: 9.5 inches at the base Height: 16.5 inches to the top of the central cross.