One of the least known, most versatile, and most beautiful expressions of Mexican folk art is hojalata (tin art work), also known in some parts of Mexico as, lamina or lata. Since the 1500's, this humble metal has been made more pleasing by being shaped, stamped, punched, painted and cut into a wide variety of decorative and functional artwork. One reason it's popular as a material for folk art is that it is very light, it's strong and it's inexpensive. Along with being low cost, it's easily bent and crimped to form intricate shapes. It's a material that has been used for many inexpensive domestic products, like mousetraps or tin cups, and for that reason, can easily be overshadowed or ignored when faced with similar pieces made of gold or silver. BUT it's shiny surface as an appearance similar to silver, which likely contributed to its appeal for making candlesticks, plates, pitchers, buckets, ladles, etc, despite its tendency to rust.