Nichos / Skeleton Shadow Boxes: SI LO SABE DIOS... QUE LO SEPA EL MUNDO / IF GOD KNOWS... LET THE WORLD KNOW

Mexican Nichos / Skeleton Shadow Boxes:

These are handmade wooden boxes with clear glass windows, handpainted and often decorated with glitter and sequins as well.

They depict skeleton figures and scenarios/dioramas.

They are adaptions of retablo paintings and used as portable shrines to honour the dead, loved ones and patron saints. 

Often devotional, often humorous, often combining mestizo spirituality, popular culture and roman catholicism. But still representing themes in popular Latin American culture. 

Nichos are used on altars in the home as shrines, protection and as devotional objects.