Magnets
The Radiance of Tin Art
Tinwork is one of Mexico's oldest crafts. Rooted in Spanish colonial times, tinplate workers manufactured it by dipping thin sheets of iron into molten tin. This coats the iron with a bright, durable surface that is resistant to rusting. Our tin figures are entirely handmade (cutout, punched, embossed and soldered) by craftsmen using great precision and artistic flair. Painted with bright, durable lacquer and enamel colors, tin figures are inexpensive, lightweight and long lasting. In modern Mexico, the two centers of tin smithing are Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende, and we carry products from both cities.
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Read More About Magnets
Our tin refrigerator magnets are handmade in Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Choose from devotional hearts, birds and fish, mermaids and witches colorful skulls and the beautiful face of Frida Kahlo. Brighten up your kitchen with our colorful fridge magnets!
Please take the time to browse our other tin products, including animal figures, birds, Day of Dead, Christmas ornaments and tin stars, nicho frames and Milagro hearts. Use the drop-down menu above, under TIN ART.
The age of tinwork in Mexico goes back at least to the 1700s. Tin was originally manufactured by dipping thin sheets of iron into molten tin to coat them with a bright surface that was durable and highly resistant to rusting. (However, if the surface is scratched, revealing the iron underneath, it will begin to rust if exposed to rain or high humidity.) For an artisan, the appeal of working with tin is its lightness, strength and low cost. It is easily bent, cut and soldered to form intricate shapes.
In eras gone by, Mexicans decorated their homes with tin photo frames, candelabras, lanterns, tin and glass frames (nichos) holding pictures of saints. In humble churches, tin crowns were set on the heads of statues, lit tin lanterns were carried during processions, tin candlesticks adorn the altars.
Tinwork is often referred as the poor man’s silver. In Mexico, every religious and festive object handcrafted in silver has a counterpart in humbler forms made from tinplate. Yet the same degree of skill and passion the silversmiths put into their work could be found in the less opulent pieces made by tinsmiths. Their pieces, too had an alluring shine, that charming brilliance.
These days, tinsmiths in Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende are carrying on the traditions, making Christmas decorations, tin soldiers, heart-shaped wall plaques and a variety of clever toys. Most of their work is for export to the southern United States, where tinwork is one of the most visible manifestations of Mexican Culture. Most popular with American collectors are the cheerful, flat ornaments, of which we have many here at Viva Oaxaca Folk Art. Take a look and enjoy.
Showing 1–28 of 32 results
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Owl Magnet
Size: 2.5 inches tall
The Owl Magnet features a bright and shiny owl perched on a branch. Handmade in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_01$4.25 -
Tropical Fish Magnet
Size: 2.75 inches long
The Tropical Fish Magnet is colorful and shiny. Handmade in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_02$4.25 -
Armadillo Magnet
Size: 3 inches long
The Armadillo Magnet features bright and shiny yellow armadillo with colorful accents. Handmade by the Aquino Family in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_03$4.25 -
Choir Angel Magnet
Size: 2.25 inches tall
Choir Angel Magnet features a bright and shiny angel with choir book. It is painted in bright colors of red, green and yellow. Perfect as a stocking stuffer or party favor! Handmade in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_04$4.25 -
Skeleton Woman Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
Skeleton Woman Magnet features a skeleton woman wearing a red dress and hat. This Day Of The Dead Decor is handmade in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_06$4.25 -
Skeleton Magnet
Size: 2.5 inches tall
The Skeleton Magnet features a skeleton is playing the fiddle and wearing a sombrero. This Day Of The Dead art is handmade in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_07$4.25 -
Mermaid with Black Hair Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
Mermaid with Black Hair Magnet features a large mermaid with black hair and green fin. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_09$4.25 -
Mermaid with Red Hair Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
Mermaid with Red Hair Magnet features a large mermaid with red hair and pink fin. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_10$4.25 -
Orange Mermaid Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Orange Mermaid Magnet features a thin mermaid with black hair and an orange fin. The fin is decorated with blue and turquoise accents. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_11$4.25 -
Pink Mermaid Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Pink Mermaid Magnet features a thin mermaid with blond hair and a pink fin. The fin has blue designs. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_12$4.25 -
Angel Magnet
Size: 3.5 inches long
The Angel Magnet is a beautiful magnet that has a bright and shiny finish of multiple colors. Perfect for a stocking stuffer or to send in your holiday cards! Handmade in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_13$4.25 -
White Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The White Skull Magnet is handmade in San Miguel de Allende. Available in several other colors at Viva Oaxaca Folk Art.
SKU: TN-9_14$4.25 -
Black Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Black Skull Magnet is Day of the Dead art. It features shiny back paint with a colorful design. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_15$4.25 -
Yellow Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Yellow Skull Magnet features shiny yellow paint with multicolored design. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_16$4.25 -
Blue Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Blue Skull Magnet features a bright blue background with multicolored design. Day of the Dead tin art is handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_17$4.25 -
Red Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Red Skull Magnet Red features shiny brick-red paint with multicolored design. Day of the Dead tin art. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: tn-9_18$4.25 -
Black Ape Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Black Ape Skull Magnet features shiny black paint with floral design. Day of the Dead art. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_19$4.25 -
Blue Ape Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
The Blue Ape Skull Magnet features a blue background with a floral design. Handcrafted in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_20$4.25 -
Pink Ape Skull Magnet
Size: 3 inches tall
Pink Ape Skull Magnet Pink is a Day of the Dead item . It features an ape skull painted a shiny pink and decorated with a floral design. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_21$4.25 -
Gold Flaming Heart Magnet
Size: 2 inches tall
The Gold Flaming Heart Magnet features a red heart surrounded by a floral frame and gold flame. Handmade in Oaxaca, Mexico.
SKU: TN-9_31$4.25 -
Flaming Heart Magnet
The Flaming Heart Magnet features a red heart surrounded in gold. It has a border of flowers in red, blue and purple. It is topped by a pink and blue flame. Handmade in Oaxaca.
SKU: TN-9_32$4.25 -
Cross with Heart Magnet
Size: 2.5 inches tall
Cross with Heart Magnet features a red heart in the center of an embossed tin silver cross.
SKU: TN-9_33$4.25 -
Catrina Skeleton Nicho Magnet
Size: 2.5 inches tall
Catrina Skeleton Nicho Magnet is painted in a pastel yellow color. The design includes flowers and a red heart. A print of Catrina on a blue background is in the frame.
SKU: TN-9_37$4.25 -
Flying Witch Magnet
Size: 4 inches tall
Flying Witch Magnet features a witch with blond hair, black robe and hat, and striped stockings. Handcrafted in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_38$3.95 Read more -
Heart With Gold Wings Magnet
Size: 2 inches tall
The Heart with Gold Wings Magnet is painted in brilliant colors of red, gold and green. By artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico.
SKU: TN-9_41$4.25 -
Heart with Green Rays Magnet
Size: 1.5 inches across
Heart With Green Rays Magnet features a red heart surrounded by red flowers and green rays.
SKU: TN-9_44$4.25 -
Smiling Sun Magnet
Size: 2.25 inches in diameter
Smiling Sun Magnet features a red face framed with yellow and multicolored rays. Handmade in Mexico.
SKU: TN-9_46$4.25 -
Rooster Magnet
Size: 3.5 inches tall
The Rooster Magnet features a brightly hand painted rooster in yellow, red, blue and green. Handmade in San Miguel de Allende.
SKU: TN-9_49$4.25