IRONWORK

Work tools at an old hacienda in central Hidalgo state; image courtesy of 'Sevilla13M' via Wikimedia Commons Work tools at an old hacienda in central Hidalgo state; ; copyright-free image courtesy of "Sevilla13M" made available through Wikimedia Commons.

The main ironwork found in and around mercados consists of fireplace accessories, garden furniture, window grating, and wrought-iron balcony railings.

Especially in Colima and Puebla you might also find items designed for the curious Mexican institution of charrería. In charrería individuals dress for certain festive occasions in the most showy, ostentatious, pseudo-cowboy costumes imaginable. A minor ironwork industry supplies charro costumes with excessively ornate spurs, stirrups, buttons, and gun-handle leaves.

Here's a charro and his horse with sparkling pieces of ironwork:


Charrería at the Mole Festival in San Pedro Actocpan, Mexico City; copyright-free image courtesy of "A01333649" made available through Wikimedia Commons.