living room sculpture

Angel Cerón is inspired by the depiction of Tlácoc in the Ixtlilxóchitl Codex dating back to 1325-1519 AD. The powerful Aztec god of rain appears like a grand warrior holding a lightning rod and shield. His anthropomorphic presence includes a human body with a bird like visage and a grand headdress. According to this codex, Tláloc ruled over the Guinamenti, a civilization of giants who lived in the Anahuac Valley long before the Aztecs. Given his high merits as a ruler he was made a deity.

Mexican couple Zeny and Reyna celebrate the artistic traditions of their country, crafting an alebrije dragon from copal wood and maguey fibers. With captivating hand-painted motifs against a blue body, this sculpture is a magical addition to any home decor, bringing a little piece of Mexico in every little detail.

Lithe graceful dancers perform the Marinera dance in this vivid sculpture by John Barrow. "It's part of my 'Folklore' series inspired by this beautiful country and its regional traditions," says Barrow with admiration. Originating from northern Peru, the Marinera recreates the sea of emotions surrounding flirtation, attraction and falling in love. It can be danced individually or in couples, and performers hold handkerchiefs in sign of peace. Barrow works with hand-carved segments of cedar, mahogany and ishpingo woods, which he dyes with natural pigments.

Her hair up and adorned with a blossom, and her outfit complete, a young Balinese woman is ready to go out for the evening. This lovely original sculpture is presented by Made Pastika in Bali. The artisan gives the piece a distressed painted finish, lending it the appearance of a treasured antique.

"I made this sculpture as a tribute to life," confides John Barrow. "The different colors represent the joy of life, of feeling, and of having hope for the future. Its optimism is contagious." Barrow crafts the sculpture with hand-carved segments of cedar, mahogany and ishpingo woods. He stains the woods with colorful natural dyes.

Expertly crafted from jempinis wood and hand-painted in beautiful colors, this enchanting sea turtle sculpture by Bali’s Made Arsa is sure to infuse warmth and originality into your living space. What truly sets this sculpture apart is its one-of-a-kind base, fashioned from natural benalu or parasite wood. This extraordinary material, formed by a plant that attaches to a tree's bark and creates a unique, mushroom-like structure, is unlike anything you've ever seen before. The sea turtle rests atop this fascinating base, creating a harmonious blend of natural and artistic elements that will elevate the aesthetic of any room.

Working in the Talavera style, Mexican artisan Juana Ponce creates a stunning figurine. She first forms the orb from ceramic, painting it by hand with bright and vibrant floral motifs in the traditional style of Talavera pottery.

Painted in happy shades of spring green, sunrise orange, and violet, this charming owl figurine is sure to brighten up any room. Artisans Jesus and Roxana Hernandez handcraft the owl from copal wood, decorating it with the detailed motifs that give alebrijes their distinctive appearance.

The alebrije tradition started with Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he fell into a coma due to serious illness. While he was unconscious, he dreamed he was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije. Upon recovering, Linares recreated these figures in bright colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and was one of the main influences of artisans in the state of Oaxaca who began crafting alebrijes of their own using traditional wood carving methods.

Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of Oaxaca design and craft this intriguing owl alebrije sculpture from copal wood. "In our village, most of the men and women are wood-carvers and we specialize in Mexico's traditional alebrije sculptures. These are colorful and fanciful figures carved from natural branches that depict all kinds of...imaginary creatures," Jesus explains.

The alebrije tradition started with Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he fell into a coma due to serious illness. While he was unconscious, he dreamed he was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije. Upon recovering, Linares recreated these figures in bright colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and was one of the main influences of artisans in the state of Oaxaca who began crafting alebrijes of their own using traditional wood carving methods.

Looking every bit the product of a fever dream that alebrijes are, this outlandishly-decorated owl sculpture is crafted by hand from copal wood by Mexican artisans Jesus and Roxana Hernandez. "Mastering the art of alebrijes requires practice, discipline and much love," says Jesus. "Roxana is expert at decorating the sculptures and her delicate hands convey beauty, from fine geometric patterns to flowers. Her designs are unique and elegantly detailed."

The alebrije tradition started with Mexico City papier mache artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he fell into a coma due to serious illness. While he was unconscious, he dreamed he was caught between the land of the living and the dead; the place looked like a forest and was populated with creatures with body parts belonging to different animals. The beings repeatedly uttered the word alebrije. Upon recovering, Linares recreated these figures in bright colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes. His work became famous and was one of the main influences of artisans in the state of Oaxaca who began crafting alebrijes of their own using traditional wood carving methods.