sun

Evoking a luminous sun peeking through the clouds, Balinese artisan Rupadana creates these stylish earrings. Lava stone discs frame intricate sterling silver rays, marking the sun's shape. Lava stone is known for promoting inner calm.

Ancient Maya craftspeople were masters at the delicate art of relief sculptures in stucco. Ruben and Gilda Perez utilize the material to create a beautiful mask with jade inlay. Faithfully reproducing an archaeological piece from Palenque, they depict the sun god, an image buried in the tomb of Pacal, or "Shield Jaguar." The king is interred beneath the Temple of the Inscriptions, and this jade mask is a one of the many offerings found there. The Guatemalan artisans present the mask on a brass and pinewood display stand, and it can also be displayed on the wall.

A frog exhibits purpose and good will as it goes about its business. A jaunty fringed parasol shades the amphibian from Bali's bright sun. A good luck talisman, the frog is a frequent theme in Indonesian art, portrayed by Wayan Kandiyasa.

Wayan Kandiyasa's charming sculpture depicts Dewa Surya, a Hindu god who pulls the sun across the sky in his horse-drawn chariot. Balinese artisans bring the powerful deity to life by hand carving pale sandstone, engraving the sculpture with intricate, life-like details.

A unique decoration from Armenian artisan duo Ruben and Karen Ghazaryan is carved by hand from felsite stone and represent a fusion of artistic expression and practical utility. The sundial khachkars are designed to cast a shadow on a set of marked lines or numerals, allowing the observer to determine the time of day based on the position of the shadow and the angle of the sun. These sundials were used for practical timekeeping in various settings, including monasteries and public spaces.

Those sunny days in the fields, enjoying nature and its gifts, return in a greener and more whimsical way. Joaquín y Silvia, from El Salvador, relive those calm memories with this cement flower pot exquisitely crafted in the shape of a classic truck, featuring a sturdy structure perfect for plants and a hole that allows for drainage.