reverse painted glass

Created for the World Peace Project, this beautiful tray, hand-painted by the artist Flora Polo in Peru, is a clear message of peace -- and a tribute to World Peace Day.

The artist's explains that her intention in painting the message on a tray is an allegory to creating peace as a daily ritual and shared consumption on the table. Human sharing, and the innate goodness that we carry in our DNA, are directly connected to all beings on this planet, she comments.

Via the traditional reverse-painted glass technique, the artist creates a charming wooden tray featuring doves surrounding the world and asking for peace. The hearts at each corner form the phrase "Love and peace in this world," in Spanish, and the centre reads "World Peace Day."

The Ortiz Family of Peru hand-paints an intricate, floral medallion and blue vine motifs on a glass panel, preserving the time-honored tradition of reverse-painted glass. They craft the tray of wood, finished with silver-toned sides.

Reverse-painted glass, introduced to Peru in the 17th century, is now a revered Peruvian art form. The Ortiz Family brings to this craft a unique conflux of influences. Their repetitive geometrical and symmetrical patterns owe their origins to Inca pottery, but their coloration is drawn from the multi-hued blue and gold tiles found in North Africa and Spain. Our glass-topped wooden tray is handcrafted in the family’s workshop in Peru.

Hand-painted onto the reverse side of a single glass panel, a mandala with heart motifs decorates the bottom of this tray from Peru. Apolonio Alejandro Roque works in the colonial style of reverse-painted glass, crafting the tray of wood. It features gold-tone trim with handles at the sides.

A colourful floral medallion surrounded by leafy motifs is painted by hand against a blue background. Peruvian artisan Asunta Pelaez works on the reverse side of the glass pane to create the colourful designs. She crafts the tray of wood with a silver tone border, adding handles for easy carrying.

This beautiful tray, crafted in the time-honored tradition of reverse-painted glass, is designed by Felipe Giron in Peru. Two birds perched on a flowering branch are painted with meticulous detail on the reverse side of a glass pane. The pane is then set on the wood tray, and a gold-toned rim with handles completes the design. The painted motifs are so lovely that you might find yourself reluctant to place anything on the tray.

Luxurious, floral vine motifs in silver and blue are featured in this decorative tray from Peru. The Ortiz Family diligently hand-paints the designs on the reverse side of a glass panel that rests at the bottom. They work together to craft the tray of wood, finished with silver-tone handles.