xmas ornaments

Perfect for welcoming the holidays, this pair of ornaments from Mexico is designed by Juana Ponce. She works in the time-honored tradition of Talavera handicrafts, hand-painting each ceramic tree with colorful and vibrant floral motifs.

These handmade ornaments from artisan Komang Sri depict Barong, a mythical creature from Balinese folklore. While Barong can be depicted in a variety of forms, here the artisan has given the Barong's face a humanistic expression and sharp teeth. The ornaments are carved from albesia wood, one painted white and the other red, with gold paper accents and red pompoms adding a festive touch.

Designed by Mexican duo Jesus and Roxana Hernandez, this set of five ornaments carries on the rich tradition of alebrije sculptures. Each ornament is carved by hand of copal wood to depict a sweet chicken. The ornaments are hand-painted with assorted colors.

Peruvian artisan Daniel Vargas makes this set of three dried gourd owl ornaments by hand. Owls are part of many legends and superstitions in the Andes. Here, Daniel has chosen to represent them as watchful guardians. The crafting process includes the practice of pyrography and the use of a burin to make fine incisions; the artisan carefully gives shape to each owl's features which include feathers, wings and a delightfully detailed face.