small wooden crosses

“In my work I seek to recover the folklore of the Andean people,” says Peruvian artisan Ronald Franco. She does so with this delicate cedar wood cross to display on the wall. Inspired by the sacred heart of Jesus, it seems wrapped in an almost celestial way that highlights the handmade cross. The cross is light and has applications of fine bronze and copper sheets.

This gorgeous wall cross is the original creation of Peru's Marcos Luzalde. He works in the time-honored tradition of reverse-painted glass to decorate the mirror's glass panes with delicate flower motifs on a background of teal. Centered by a small square mirror, the wood frame of the cross is finished with bronze and aluminum leaf.

This sweet jewelry box is presented by Riyas in India. Local artisans craft the box from kail wood and cover it with layers of papier mache. The box is then sanded smooth before being carefully hand-painted with floral motifs. The interior features a velvet lining to safeguard small treasures.

This lovely jewelry box is presented by Riyas in India. Local artisans craft the box from kail wood and cover it with layers of papier mache. The box is then sanded smooth before being carefully hand-painted with floral motifs. The interior features a velvet lining to safeguard small treasures.

A playful, excited cat makes a vibrant and fun addition to any home, handcrafted from copal wood and maguey plant fibers in the style of traditional alebrijes. Mexican couple Zeny and Reyna proudly paint this sculpture by hand, drawing inspiration from their cultural roots to cover the cat in bright floral motifs against a teal body. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Alebrijes are often a hybrid of real animals, such as elephants and crocodiles, or they can be more fantastical creatures, such as dragons. Artisan Teresita Gonzalez of Xoxocotlan in the Mexican state of Oaxaca creates an elaborately hand carved copal wood alebrije dragonfly, or libelula. The insect is beautifully painted in bold red with accents of black, blue and yellow. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

It is said that Oaxaca's alebrije tradition descends directly from Mexico City artisan Pedro Linares (1906-1992). When he was 30, he became seriously ill and fell into a sort of coma. While he was unconscious, he had a most fantastic dream. 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, and when Linares woke up, he recreated these figures in vivid colors using papier mache techniques and called them alebrijes . His work became famous and eventually influenced artisans in the state of Oaxaca who decided to craft alebrijes using traditional wood carving methods and according to that region's world vision.

Asunta Pelaez paints beautiful motifs by hand on glass panes that cover this decorative box. Featuring elegant butterflies that explore a floral garden against a purple background, it is the perfect home accessory for storing small items.