1

There is quite a bit of variety at the Mercado de la Ciudadela on Balderas. I don't remember anything about prices, but you will definitely find what you are looking for (and more) there.

2

A hand-sized (or even fist-sized) alebrije will cost a lot more than US$5, if it's not made in China. I sell Oaxacan alebrijes in the USA, so I know.

A finger-sized (in terms of length) alebrije dog will probably run US$15 or more, if the workmanship is average; if you want one the size of a hand or fist it will cost a lot more than that. For exceptional workmanship, you'll pay more.

Copal wood (which real alebrjies are made of) is very expensive for the artisans to buy, then you have to add on the cost of the paint, and of course the labor. If you find an alebrije the size of your hand that's anywhere near US$5, I can guarantee it's probably not made of copal and probably made in China.

3

It just occurred to me- perhaps you are looking for paper-mache alebrijes? In which case, I have no idea about the price! My previous post only refers to alebrijes made from copal. I know paper-mache alebrjies are sold in DF but don't know details. My impression is that the paper-mache ones are huge (at least the ones I've always seen are very big), I don't know if you can find them hand-sized, but maybe you can.

4

The first alebrijes, along with the name, originated with Pedro Linares in México City in the 1930s. He worked in cardboard and paper mache. The wooden one came much later. In the 1980s wood artisans from Oaxaca first saw Linares’ papaer mache designs and adapted them to the carving of a local wood called copal.

5

rollyb, that's interesting about the alebrijes. They're one of my fave items to look at in the markets, but unless I'm buying a small one, out of my budget (wooden ones). Very cool!