decorative wall plates

Crafted from ceramic, this piece of wall art from Cosa Rica resembles a plate. Floribeth Grijalba creates this piece of wall art, featuring the hand-painted image of a dragon in the abstract form of pre-Hispanic iconography. This decor accessory will add a touch of history and culture to your home.

By Elias Garcia, this handcrafted cross is a reminder of the importance of faith. The artisan covers the open figure with handwoven fabric. Diminutive worry dolls in handwoven apparel stand shoulder to shoulder to surround the cutout cross. According to Maya legend, the sun god gave princess Ixmucane the gift of solving people's problems. With time people started making dolls in Ixmucane's honor and they would tell her their woes, hoping she would solve them through the dolls. Many people whisper to the dolls, then place them under their pillows at night, hoping that the doll will provide a solution as they sleep.

By Ghanaian artisan Kobina Asmah, this decorative plate will bring an air of reverence and African culture to any home. Kobina handcrafts the relief panel of sese wood in the shape of a plate, accentuated with embossed aluminum and brass in yellow and black tones. At the center, the image of the Adinkra symbol Gye Nyame is featured, meaning "except for God" and signifying God's supremacy.

Alluring colors embellish this decorative plate by Francisco Guerrero Arotinco. Made from clay fired at high temperatures and then expertly painted in carefully-orchestrated color, shade and shape create a riveting piece that cheerfully enhances any living room.

With bright colors and detailed designs, this decorative African mask will make an eye-catching conversation piece for your home or office wall. Ghanaian artisan Abdul Aziz Mohamadu hand carves the mask from sese wood then creates a stunning mosaic out of multi-color recycled plastic beads to create a work of art on the mask's forehead. A row of five marbles accents the center of the forehead and stamped aluminum plates rim the eyes, cheeks, and lips. The dull black face is further adorned with a circle motif scattered across the cheeks and chin and yellow and red accents on the chin and upper forehead. The artisan titles this mask Thamsanqa, a Zulu word meaning "fortune" or "luck."

The striking image of Frida Kahlo gazes out from this colorful handcrafted ceramic plate. Designed by Mexican artisan Maria Isabel Cruz, the plate is made using the centuries-old dry rope technique, in which a wax mixture is applied to the outlines of the image or motif prior to glazing. The wax mixture creates a barrier that keeps the different fill colors in the design separate during firing, before burning off to reveal the blackened ceramic beneath. The plate can be hung on a wall for display via the nylon cord on the back.