-
Little Carnaval
Hand Made Folk Art Mirror from Peru
Little Carnaval, Hand Made Folk Art Mirror from Peru
Alejandro Chavez
Alejandro Chávez crafts a mirror frame rooted in Andean tradition. Varied scenes represent Carnavalito (Little Carnival), a celebration held in the Peruvian Andes. Musicians play traditional... read more$49.99Artist: Alejandro Chavez
-
Andean Nativity
Hand Made Cotton Arpillera Wall Hanging of Andean Nativity
Andean Nativity, Hand Made Cotton Arpillera Wall Hanging of Andean Nativity
Leonor Quispe
In this hand made arpillera wall hanging, artisan Leonor Quispe of Peru creates an Andean interpretation of a Nativity scene. Three peasants on horseback cross a colorful field to visit the baby in... read more$144.99Artist: Leonor Quispe
-
Eden Reflection
Wood Nativity Retablo Wall Mirror from Peru
Eden Reflection, Wood Nativity Retablo Wall Mirror from Peru
Alejandro Chavez
In a rectangular composition, reverent scenes in honor of the Christian nativity decorate the frame of this wall mirror from Peru. Alejandro Chavez designs this piece of wall decor, elaborating four... read more$49.99Artist: Alejandro Chavez
-
Living Faith
Cross Sculpture
Living Faith, Cross Sculpture
Alejandro de Esesarte
A tree flourishes in the center of an ornate wall cross. It suggests a living faith that grows with each passing day. Alejandro de Esesarte creates this beautiful steel wall sculpture that celebrates... read more$79.99$71.99Artist: Alejandro de Esesarte
-
Ayacucho Birth
Retablo-Style Nativity Wood Wall Mirror from Peru
Ayacucho Birth, Retablo-Style Nativity Wood Wall Mirror from Peru
Alejandro Chavez
By Peruvian artisan Alejandro Chavez, this wall mirror celebrates the traditional nativity. In the style of traditional retablos, Chavez diligently crafts a variety of different figurines from... read more$49.99Artist: Alejandro Chavez
-
Noah and His Ark
Folk Art Patchwork Appliqué Cotton Wall Hanging
Noah and His Ark, Folk Art Patchwork Appliqué Cotton Wall Hanging
Leonor Quispe
God told Noah to build a huge ark and he obeyed. Then he brought all the animals of the earth aboard, male and female, two by two. They repopulated the world after the great flood. Leonor Quispe... read more$199.99Artist: Leonor Quispe
-
Angel Nativity
Artisan Crafted Christmas Wall Sculpture from Peru
Angel Nativity, Artisan Crafted Christmas Wall Sculpture from Peru
Ramirez Brothers
The newborn Jesus sleeps in a manger on a bed of soft hay as Mary and Joseph watch over the baby. Surrounding him with love and protection, little angels adore the child, their faces expressing... read more$219.99Artist: Ramirez Brothers
-
Chapel of Bethlehem
Hand Made Religious Nativity Folk Art Mirror
Chapel of Bethlehem, Hand Made Religious Nativity Folk Art Mirror
Alejandro Chavez
Bright colors evoke a festive mood as the people of the Andes celebrate Christmas. In this elaborate mirror frame by Alejandro Chavez, musicians play inviting melodies while merchants sell tapestries... read more$49.99Artist: Alejandro Chavez
-
Evergreen Reflection
Hand Crafted Javanese Evergreen Tree Tabletop Mirror
Evergreen Reflection, Hand Crafted Javanese Evergreen Tree Tabletop Mirror
Sapto Daryono
This wonderfully festive mirror comes from Javanese artisan Sapto Daryono. The lovely tabletop mirror is crafted by hand from albesia wood and glass into a tree reminiscent of those typically seen at... read more$47.99$43.19Artist: Sapto Daryono
-
Beautiful Holly
Holly Motif Ceramic Decorative Plate from Guatemala
Beautiful Holly, Holly Motif Ceramic Decorative Plate from Guatemala
Ivan Villatoro
Hand-painted with beautiful holly motifs, this festive decorative plate is the perfect home accessory for welcoming the holiday season. Guatemalan artisan Ivan Villatoro crafts the plate of ceramic... read more$49.99$44.99Artist: Ivan Villatoro
-
Fiesta in My Homeland
Mirror
Fiesta in My Homeland, Mirror
Alejandro Chavez
The nativity takes place in an Andean stable and below, herdsmen in traditional Peruvian dress appear with llamas. To the left, a market stall offers hats for sale while carnival masks are sold on the... read more$49.99Artist: Alejandro Chavez
-
Chapel of Bethlehem
Fair Trade Folk Art Retablo Mirror
Chapel of Bethlehem, Fair Trade Folk Art Retablo Mirror
Alejandro Chavez
Diverse scenes representative of the Ayacucho region of Peru comprise this handcrafted retablo, a unique style of Andean folk art. The altar-like composition is divided into several shelves, populated... read more$99.99Artist: Alejandro Chavez
-
Jesus' Birth
Hand Carved Balinese Relief Panel of the Holy Family
Jesus' Birth, Hand Carved Balinese Relief Panel of the Holy Family
Seji Taram
Baby Jesus smiles as his mother, Mary, holds the child against her cheek. Joseph leans in to join this tender moment in a beautiful portrait of the Holy Family. Seji Taram transforms Balinese suar... read more$59.99$53.99Artist: Seji Taram
-
Andean Scenes
Retablo mirror
Andean Scenes, Retablo mirror
Alejandro Chavez
Peru's millenary traditions inspire Alejandro Chávez in the colorful design of this retablo mirror. The door opens to reveal four detailed scenes featuring handcrafted ceramic figurines harvesting... read more$44.99Artist: Alejandro Chavez
Christmas Wall Decor
(14 items)Member Zone
Log in
Log in to see your rewards

Log in or create a free account
to see your current rewards, artisan impact level and shipping discounts.
The Village Council
Your answers straight from the village experts


As with any work of art, direct sunlight will fade colors over time, especially for tapestries with natural dyes. We recommend hanging your tapestry in an area that avoids direct sun exposure to maintain vibrancy. To clean your woven tapestry, use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment or dry clean if necessary. Spot treatment can also be used with a gentle fabric cleaner, but we recommend testing it on a small area first. Alternatively, you may hand wash your tapestry using cold water, then hang it to dry in the shade. Some tapestries made from cotton fabric may be machine washed on cold.


When it comes to handcrafted traditional tapestries, the most common materials include wool, cotton, silk, and natural dyes. Certain regions incorporate unique materials or designs into their tapestries. In the Andes, alpaca fiber is commonly used. In India, one finds batik printed cotton. In Mexico and Central America sheep wool and natural cotton threads are frequently used. In Thailand, rich silk material is a feature of handmade tapestries.


To craft an eco-friendly tapestry, traditional artisans hold themselves to high standards, both in terms of materials and processes. Natural fibers, textiles, and dyes are derived from plants and trees. Some artisans even incorporate recycled or upcycled materials in their commitment to eco-friendly processes. Traditional art forms that are passed down through the generations are often painstakingly made by hand. They are naturally eco-friendly, as they avoid mass production, factory runoff, and industrial waste. This also means that each tapestry is uniquetruly one of a kind.


When it comes to tapestries, function meets style! A handmade tapestry can be a great way to brighten up any living space while providing insulation against the cold. Materials like alpaca and sheep wool create natural warmth by trapping cool air inside the cloth, creating a more stable temperature within the room.


While factory-produced tapestries are increasingly available to consumers, traditional, authentic tapestries are handmade by artisans who often learn the artform from older generations. Skilled makers from the Andes, India, Mexico and Thailand make use of foot-treadle or backstrap looms, where they interweave warp and weft threads and then tamp them down into a tight stitch. An artisan may finish a handmade tapestry by using a needle and thread or a sewing machine for final touches.


Traditional tapestries depict scenes and images which are drawn from the lives and natural environments of the artisans who craft them. Some include geometric designs, like the mandala, which is thought to represent wholeness and symmetry. Others make use of paisley, floral, or leafy patterns, particularly in tapestries from India. Central American tapestries may incorporate geometric motifs, animals, and people, while Mexican tapestries are often colorful with Greca patterns and designs. Thai artisans use symbols that are popular within Thai culture, religious characters, animal scenes, or depictions of human forms. Unique tapestries from the Andes are often vibrant with elaborate scenes that incorporate folklore, village life, and pastoral existence.


The methods for making tapestries vary as widely as the regions from which they come. Because many traditional artisans adopt the methods of their ancestors, they have kept those ancient artforms alive and well. In the Andes, weavers often work on a wooden treadle loom in which they use foot pedals, called treadles, to control the weave of the tapestry. In Central America, the treadle loom and the backstrap loom are both integral to tapestry art. The backstrap loom is one of the oldest techniques which dates back thousands of years, in which one part of the loom is attached to the weaver and the other part is attached to a fixed object (historically, a tree). To create vibrant color, artisans embroider and dye their tapestries with natural plants and pigments. Around the world, weavers use tie-dye, Dabu (the application of wax or gum clay and resin to the cloth to create a diffuse color effect), Batik (an ancient method in which dye-resistant wax is applied to cloth to create select patterns of color), hand embroidery, and patchwork to create unique and diverse tapestry art.


The tapestry is an ancient textile art form that dates back thousands of years to early civilizations in Peru, Egypt, and Thailand. In Peru, skilled weavers used colorful camelid fiber threads to create beautiful tapestries for ritualistic funeral mantles. Ancient Incas wove short tunics (Unku) to show importance and social status. Ancient Egyptians crafted shroud-like tapestries to bury their dead. Tapestries gained international prominence when Europeans began to decorate their castles and churches with elaborate textiles that depicted historical scenes, as well as religious messages. Today, skilled artisans preserve the ancient techniques of their ancestors. In Thailand, for example, silk weavers are renowned for techniques that have been used since the rule of the Angkor kings circa 800 A.D. In Central America, contemporary weavers pay homage to early Mayan artisans who used plants, shells, and even snails to color their first tapestries in the 15th century. In India, where some of the first tapestries were made and the textile industry became the base of their economy, the skills of generations past still live on in modern artisans.
Featured Reviews on Christmas Wall Decor
Wood retablo wall mirror, 'Eden Reflection'





By Polina
absolutely wonderful
We received Alejandro Chavezs mirror, and it is absolutely wonderful. Superb craftsmanship, bright colors, delicate style of brushwork, charming characters and composition. What a wonderful piece, looking at it brings me such joy. Mirror was carefully packed and came by mail very promptly.
Wood relief panel, 'Jesus' Birth'





By Janet
Touching depiction of the Holy Family
Beautifully carved depiction of the Holy Family on wood. Captures the touching tenderness of a family s love for their baby
Mirror, 'Little Carnaval'





By indigogirl17
Such a joyous meaningful retablo
This retablo is intricate and beautifully made. It hangs on the wall by my bed and gives me joy every time I see it. It shows the fun of Carnaval in the Andes. The artisan is wonderful and a talented artist and I treasure this.
Featured Artist



Alejandro Chavez Traditional Andean retablos
"Over the years, I perfected my abilities and became a master retablo craftsman. In some, I depict Biblical scenes and, in others, everyday life in the Andes."