art pieces

This expertly hand-carved pinewood mask by Jose Canil Ramos of Guatemala brilliantly reflects its Mayan roots. The carved face is adorned with a colorful plume to depict the ornamentation of the upper echelon of Mayan society. The mask is made with an elaborate method to create a unique masterpiece that will stand out on any wall.Of his inspiration, the artisan says, "I made this mask thinking of the artistic beauty of Mayan plumes. Besides being important for denoting social class or hierarchy, they were pieces of art."

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 ruler Pacal, whose name means "Shield Jaguar." The king is buried beneath the Temple of the Inscriptions, and this jade mask is a part 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.

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.

"I like making jaguar heads because they remind me of my Maya ancestors. To them the jaguars protected the fields and mountains. They regarded the jaguar as a deity that they honored at the beginning of a harvest," says Jose Canil Ramos. According to Maya cosmogony, the jaguar is represented by the Ix day of the Maya calendar. It symbolizes strength and vigor, as well as feminine and feline energies. Canil carves the sculpture by hand from pinewood and paints it with extraordinary artistry. Before finishing the piece he applies a mixture of soot and water to achieve an antique and weathered illusion.