collectible decor

"I want to show an elephant's happy feelings. It's real!" Thailand's Amporn presents a lifelike pachyderm with tusks carved from ivorywood.

Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family delicately carves the heroic royal couple of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. The epic poem tells the story of Rama, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, who eventually wins Sita in marriage. Displaced as rightful heir to his father's throne, Rama goes into exile with Sita and his brother Lakshmana. Sita is later abducted by the demon-king Ravana. Rama, with the aid of the monkey general Hanoman, searches for Sita and slays Rawana, rescuing her. Rama then regains his throne. Rumors and gossip accuse Sita of adultery during her captivity. Although innocent, she bears Rama's twin sons in exile, sheltered by the hermit Valmiki, the author of the poem. Many years pass, but eventually, Rama and Sita reunite in love. This elegant sculpture by Nyoman Indrawati Subrata of the Subrata Family was created in suar wood which is responsible for the richness of color that can be seen in this masterpiece.

Raising its trunk in a friendly greeting a royal elephant brings the majesty of Indian handicrafts to your decor. Fida Hussain crafts elegant sculpture of papier mache over weeping willow wood. Intricate, hand-painted floral motifs in a rainbow of delightful colors make this creature a true work of art.

Bring a little piece of Thailand into your home with Amporn's luxe elephant sculpture, sure to wow you with its gleaming gold exterior. Thai artisans start by carefully hand carving the elephant from raintree wood before covering the entire creature in shimmering gold foil for opulent effect.

A rotund fish with big eyes swims sinuously in cool rivers. Colorful motifs from Zapotec art and ancient temples cover the body and fins. By Manuel Cruz, this is a beautiful example of Mexico's alebrije art. The image is carved by hand of copal wood in the style of Oaxaca and meticulously painted by hand with tiny brushes. The finer details are created using a maguey thorn instead of a brush.

The alebrije tradition originated with Mexico City artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became ill and fell into a coma. While he was unconscious, he dreamed he was caught between the land of the living and the dead, a place populated with creatures whose body parts belonged to different animals. The beings repeatedly cried, "Alebrije!" When he was well, Linares recreated these fanciful figures in papier mache. His work became famous and inspired artisans in the state of Oaxaca, who began crafting alebrijes of wood.

The wood branch dictates the final form, thus size and shapes can vary slightly. Thus, each alebrije is an authentic work of Mexican folk art.

Fascinated by Thailand's ancestral buildings, Pirot Gitikoon carves a faithful replica of a Buddhist temple, known as a vihara.. Carved of teak wood by hand, the miniature temple is intended to become a spirit house. According to custom, when people finish building their houses they create a san phra poom, or guardian spirit house. A Buddhist ceremony takes place to invite a protective spirit to inhabit the small house. It is believed it will bring luck, happiness, success and security against mean spirits or enemies who might threaten the family or their home.

Fernando Castro crafts a magnificent sculpture inspired by the Peruvian horse, known as el caballo de paso. Introduced by Spaniards during the colonial era, these horses have played an important role in the history of the Americas. The horse is carved by hand of dark mahogany to feature an impressive level of detail. An intricate leather saddle and straps are accented with sterling silver.

Pirot Gitikoon shares Thai traditions with this hand-carved replica of a Buddhist temple, intended as a guardian spirit house or san phra poom. According to custom, when people finish building a house they include a spirit house to protect the family from evil spirits. Gitikoon carves this house by hand from quality teak wood. The gables feature eight heads shaped like Naga, the protective dragon. The bargeboards replicate Naga's scales, as well as swan tails. The swan is a mystical being from the Himaphan forest. A small pagoda adorns the rooftop; it is crowned with a lotus blossom.

In designing this traditional spirit house, Thai artisan Jaifah Aksornsri draws inspiration from the architectural styles of temples from the ancient Lanna kingdom. It is customary for people in Thailand to build a san phra poom, or "guardian spirit house" when they finish building their own house. A Buddhist ceremony takes place, inviting a protective spirit to live inside the small house. These spirit houses are believed to bring luck, happiness, success, and security to those within the home. Handcrafted from mango wood, red stairs lead to a spirit house that is given a bronze-tone finish with colorful mirrored glass accents.

This colorful alebrije kitten will look just as good guarding your desk as it will crouching in your bookshelves. Zeny and Reyna carve it from copal wood and hand paint it with a combination of detailed geometric and floral patterns.

The Mexican artisans were brought together by their love of art, color, and nature. They are true ambassadors of the art of alebrijes. Their work is on exhibit in multiple museums around the US and Europe, and they have been recognized by both the Oaxacan and the Mexican government.

Baring fierce fangs, a powerful dragon displays his strength. Three menacing heads arise from its sinuously coiled body. Highly respected in Indonesia, dragons are believed to be the guardians of the gods. Seji Taram carves the mythical creature from Balinese suar wood. This dragon fiercely protects the sanctity of the home.

Mexico's Zeny and Reyna create this stunning alebrije sculpture, a popular traditional folk art of Oaxaca. The copal wood chameleon is painted with a dizzying array of motifs in a rainbow of bright colors. The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his feverish dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all ran at him, shouting the nonsense word "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache.