Latoneria: Mexican Tin Craft
Recycled metal transformed into sacred art
Latoneria — the craft of working tin — has roots in colonial Mexico, where indigenous artisans adapted European metalworking techniques to create something entirely new. Using recycled tin cans and sheet metal, latoneros punch, cut, and shape the material into mirrors, lanterns, ornaments, and mechanical toys.
The craft thrives in markets and workshops across Mexico, particularly in Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende. Each piece begins as flat metal that is hammered, pierced with intricate patterns, and sometimes painted in vibrant colors.
What makes latoneria remarkable is its accessibility and sustainability — it transforms everyday waste into objects of beauty, proving that art doesn't require precious materials, only skilled hands and creative vision.
Herede el oficio y sobre todo herede maquinaria, material — I inherited the trade, and above all I inherited the machinery, the material.
Sources: Carolina Rocha Menocal, Caminando por Mexicoo, MayerTravel