cool and unusual gifts

A mask built of layers seem to break open, revealing a living youth within. The wrinkled visage of an aged man frames him, and the outermost mask represent the dead. Working in ceramic, artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association create an enigmatic replica. The original piece is thought to belong to the Teotihuacan culture and is displayed in the Museum of San Ildefonso in Mexico City.

A skull opens to reveal a living face in this intriguing mask from Mexico. "Part represents life, part represents death. This exemplifies the ancient Mesoamerican concept of duality," artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association explain. Day and night, hot and cold, dark and light — this thought was present in almost all philosophical and religious ideas, extending as far south as the Andes.

Inspired by the noble elite warriors of the ancient Aztecs, artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association handcraft a ceramic mask of a noble eagle warrior. The warrior's face is framed with the red and blue feathers that cascade down from the headdress shaped like a stylized eagle. The mask can be hung on a wall with the sueded leather cord loop attached to the top of the headdress.

"When I was a little boy I loved everything that had to do with the sea and its creatures, especially seahorses. They are so morphologically different to the rest of the fish that I was fascinated by them. This childhood interest now inspires me to design these ornaments," confides José Arriola. The Guatemalan artisan handcrafts the ornaments of ceramic and paints each one with acrylics with different themes. The six ornaments hangs from bright red ribbons, and the set arrives in a traditional cotton pouch woven on a pedal-loom.

Working in cool green Celadon ceramic, Duangkamol depicts the lucky Maneki Neko. These figurines depict Japanese bobtail cats who bring good fortune. With their cheerful, smiling faces, they raise their right paws to attract money and their left paws to draw customers. Cats are Duangkamol's favorite animal.