handmade statue

Two big, expressive eyes are all it takes to make your heart melt with this ceramic owl-shaped figurine hand-painted in a unique shade of green. Artisan Jose Arriola from Guatemala specializes in the ceramics technique used by the Mayas centuries ago and that specific method of working the material results in a rustic and original finish for a figurine that will simply look splendid at home.

In the náhuatl tongue, a specific type of Central American owl was known as tecolote and now that word is used as a general synonym for this magnificent bird in that part of the world. This ceramic figurine in red, designed by Guatemalan artisan Jose Arriola, pays tribute to the unique tecolote and is a wonderful addition to your home or office décor.

Carrying great significance for many pre-Hispanic cultures, the dog is paid homage in this sculpture from Mexico. Crafted from reddish brown ceramic by artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association, this charming canine is depicted in a seated posture, wearing a grinning mask over its face. A clay rub gives this sculpture a rustic finish, as if it had been retrieved from a dig site.

Four baby owls are a lot of work for one adult, especially with their unique traits and personalities reflected in the way they behave, but thankfully the included grown-up can maintain the harmonious balance. Ceramics artisan Jose Arriola crafts this family of Tecolotes or owls, in the language of the Aztec, from terracotta at his family workshop in the creative capital of Guatemala. Jose creates these owls with the ancient wood-fired terracotta process, forming the owl shape in a mold, then heats the clay in a kiln and applies a glazed finish.

A set of three picturesque brown donkey-shaped figurines handmade with ceramic will add a touch of playfulness to your spaces. Artisan Jose Arriola crafts and paints by hand these figurines using the traditional Mayan technique of working ceramics at high temperatures on wood and charcoal-fueled grills.