decorative masks

Shaped of terracotta, an enigmatic vessel stands on three legs. A face emerges from its smooth carapace. Is it an animal? Or perhaps a mask held in human hands? Arlen Estrada depicts the creature in a terracotta effigy inspired by Nicaragua's pre-Hispanic peoples. It is meticulously painted by hand in earthen colors.

Gleaming golden color defines Inca symbols. A warrior mask, the god Wiracocha and a ceremonial tumi blade accompany images from the intricate Raimondi stela. Named for Antonio Raimondi, who discovered it, the stela depicts a deity from the Chavin culture known as the smiling god. The original is housed in the National Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology in Lima. Ronald Franco works in copper and bronze to craft this beautiful vase.