handcrafted

Margarita Revilla, a master artisan versed in malleable materials, produces this charming wall cross in her Jalisco workshop through an exhaustive process. This cross has ample care and purpose put into its creation, with the artisan firstly impressing the design into clay, burnishing to give it a striking black finish, drying it for two weeks, then baking it for three days to arrive at completion. Incorporating a floral design on the cross, Revilla blends the pre-Hispanic pottery style of barro negro, commonplace in Oaxaca, with the ancient symbol of the Western religion that arrived in Mexico with the Spanish.

Crafted from ceramic in the traditional style of Maiolica handicrafts, this pair of crosses will add a touch of faith and spring to your tree this holiday season. Mexican artisan Gorky Gonzalez creates these ornaments, featuring hand-painted designs and florid accents. Each ornament is marked with the artisan's signature, as well as the letters "AT" for Alfarería Tradicional (Traditional Pottery).

Inspired by the flora and fauna of Guatemala, these little crosses are hand-painted with tropical details and glazed in glossy purple, aqua, blue, orange, yellow and green. Using the wood-fired terracotta process, artisan Jose Arriola crafts these festive cross ornaments in Antigua Guatemala, where his family has produced handicrafts for more than 100 years. Keep the little crosses safe the rest of the year with the included cotton pouch.

Hand-painted with a bouquet of colorful floral motifs, this ceramic wall cross brings the beauty of Talavera handicrafts to any home. Mexican artisan Pedro Tecayehuatl creates this beautiful addition to your wall decor.

Talavera is a distinctive art form brought to Mexico by artisans from Talavera de la Reina, Spain. The ceramic artisans of Puebla, Mexico then incorporated Chinese designs, thus creating the blue and oyster-white patterns traditionally associated with Talavera Poblana. Today there are also more "contemporary" designs that include yellow, green, orange, mauve, black and red.

National and international conventions require that a rigorous procedure be followed in the elaboration of authentic Talavera-style ceramics. Each individual piece will be slightly different, and therefore a unique work of art.