mother sculpture

Sitting, she cradles her baby in one hand, her face in the other. Her thoughtful mood transpires through this extraordinary sculpture. Victoria Agyepomaa combines modern art with tradition in celebration of motherhood. The sculpture is carved by hand of sese wood with the torso missing and her dress painted blue and white.

Luxuriously gowned in an antique silver hue, a dancer personifies Yemanjá, the goddess of all the earth's waters and mother of all Candomblé orixás.

The Candomblé religion is widely observed in northeastern Brazil. The name derives from kandombele, a Congolese-Angolan word meaning "to pray." practised in South America since slaves were brought over from Africa by the Portuguese, it combines Yoruban practises with Roman Catholic imagery. The orixás, or gods, are the forces of the earth; song and dance are a form of worship, and the dance impersonates the god, inspiring myths and legends.

As an homage to the doctrine's cultural richness, Hugo Negrini crafts an image that is both stunning and ethnographically correct. He first carves the image in wood, taking as long as 50 or 60 days, depending on the degree of detail in the piece. When the statuette is ready, he makes a silicone rubber mold and casts the sculpture in resin.

Cook with the spirit of Mother Nature by your side with this majestic set from Central America. NOVICA's team of experts works with Costa Rican and Guatemalan artisans to create this curated gift, whose natural vibe is present in each of the pieces composing the box, including Teo Hernandez's unique teak wood fruit bowl, the Chaverri Brothers's modern and rustic trivet made of reclaimed wooden pieces and resin, and the Peten Wood Artisan Sculptors' pair of jobillo wood salad spoons.

Goddess of fertility, mother of the stars, and grandmother of humanity, Coatlicue is the supreme and sacred embodiment of maternity in the Aztec world. Often known as the patron of those who die in childbirth, the deity is exquisitely depicted by the Angel Ceron Artisan Association in Mexico. The team uses ceramic and mineral dyes to portray Coatlicue in the same splendor the ancestral Aztec artisans once did, bringing this exquisite sculpture to life.

Over the centuries, the countries of Central America have been adapting and modifying Catholic imagery in their own ways. The old Spanish Baroque influence is seen in this cedar wood folk sculpture of the archangel Gabriel by Huergo and Menchaca of Nicaragua. But the decorative style and facial expression show indigenous and even Caribbean influence as well.

Gabriel, the heavenly messenger represents a pure spirit created by God. He is first mentioned in the book of Daniel. He appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist and later to Mary, to tell her she would be the mother of Jesus. The patron saint of communications workers, Gabriel's feast day is September 29.

Exemplifying strength, grace and love, there is perhaps no symbol more beautiful than a woman caring for her young child. Joseph Boateng creates a relief panel depicting a Ghanaian woman with her child on her back. Her traditional dress is hand-painted in cheerful blue and red, and other details like her intricately-braided hair are carved with expert precision. The artisan works in seasoned sese wood.