practical decor

Rocío Dávila Rojas evokes antique elegance with the beautiful design of this magazine rack. Crafted by hand, the frame is carved of noble cedar wood and the weathered lilac leather body is finely tooled with florid medallions among curling ferns.

Young teens gather for the rites of passage practiced throughout Africa. A girl holds a baby as a sign of her future roles as wife and mother. Working in batik on cotton, Edward Lamptey shares a glimpse of life in Ghana. "I depict a cultural practice which is found in every tribe, that sees that every child is initiated," he explains.

Sublime colors and a spring-inspired pattern transform this decorative box into an homage to ancient and luxurious times. Artisan Fida Hussain creates the piece from weeping willow wood, which he decorates with hand-painted accents and a polished finish. The interior is lined with faux velvet, allowing practical use.

The Akan civilization believed that each child came from God, and so each baby was born with a special blessing. This traditional belief initiated the Ghanaian day naming system, which gives a unique name to a child born on a particular day of the week, signaling their spiritual traits. Motivated by this custom, artist Emmanuel Atiemoh Yeboah puts his talent into practice and creates this cotton batik wall art, whose stars, moon details and traditional motifs in red, purple and black hues represent the souls born on Sunday, the day of those who connect with the universe.

The Akan civilization believed that each child came from God, and so each baby was born with a special blessing. This traditional belief initiated the Ghanaian day naming system, which gives a unique name to a child born on a particular day of the week, signaling their spiritual traits. Motivated by this custom, artist Emmanuel Atiemoh Yeboah puts his talent into practice and creates this cotton batik wall art, whose stars, moon details and traditional motifs in pink, purple and red hues represent the souls born on Saturday, the day of those with a special connection with the divine.