animals

A brilliant painted wood box opens to reveal handcrafted masks. Used during the Carnival celebrations preceding Lent, they show an astonishing array of animals, human and fantasy faces. Alejandro Chávez displays them in a traditional diorama, known as a retablo; each figurine is modeled by hand.

A great day has arrived; Joseph and Mary stand side by side, lovingly watching over the baby Jesus. Accompanied by shepherds and their barn animals, the Holy Family evokes the spirit of Christmas. Alejandro Chavez creates this moving retablo scene, carefully crafting each figurine of plaster of Paris and painting them by hand.

Francis Agbete sets the first Christmas in a traditional African palm house. Carved by hand from ceiba, or kapok wood, this charming nativity scene depicts the Holy Family in traditional Ghanaian dress. The Three Kings bring gifts to the Christ child, and animals snuggle close to the manger to keep the baby warm.

Celebrating a joyous occasion, this nativity scene reveals Alejandro Chávez's artistry. Joseph, Mary and the three kings look upon the baby Jesus while the animals kneel in awe. Known as a retablo, this traditional diorama is housed in a colorful chest crafted of wood and painted. Chávez carefully models each figure and paints them by hand.

In a rectangular composition, scenes celebrating childhood games decorate the frame of this wooden wall mirror from Peru. Alejandro Chavez designs this piece of wall decor, elaborating four sections with petite hand-painted ceramic figurines in the style of traditional retablos. From human pyramids to kites and soccer, this mirror captures the spirit of an Andean childhood.

Alejandro Chávez crafts a mirror frame rooted in Andean tradition with four different vignettes. At the top, people harvest tunas, the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus. To the left, merchants offer warm blankets in a market stall and to the right they sell handcrafted masks. Used during the Carnival celebrations preceding Lent, the masks appear in an astonishing array of animals, human and fantasy faces. Along the bottom, dancers perform the Scissors Dance. Known as retablos, these traditional dioramas feature figures carefully molded from ceramic plaster and painted by hand.