crafts from asia

Rendered with exquisite detail, Motilal & Ayush's sculpture portrays Lord Buddha as he sits under the shelter of Muchilinda, the serpent king. Indian artisans use local kadam wood to craft the sculpture, diligently carving the Buddha's features with a gentle hand.

Jizo, a beloved deity in the Buddhist pantheon, is believed to protect the spirits of children who have passed away. Eka in Bali presents this wonderful statuette, inspired by traditional Jizo sculptures which are usually carved in stone. It is carved from hibiscus wood, which has an unusual coloration and grain.

With hands centered in the dhyana mudra, the gesture of deep meditation, the Buddha meditates serenely. Hand carved from sleek crocodile wood, this beautiful sculpture is the creation of Wayan Rendah in Bali.

Prosperity and fortune are exquisitely personified in Lakshmi, surrounded by floral vines. With one hand raised, she smiles serenely. Suresh and Devender Garg presents this sculpture of the beautiful goddess, hand-carved from kadam wood with intricate details.

Handcrafted from raintree wood and painted with intricate characters, this striking game of strategy from Thailand is presented by Waraporn Khamsuk, featuring a box that houses 144 tiles painted with Chinese symbols in the traditional mah jongg style, often spelled "mahjong." Intended for up to four players, the objective of the game is to draw and discard tiles in order to craft a winning hand before the others do, with the player shouting "mah jongg!" when they win. A complex game of strategy and cunning, mah jongg is a game fit for beginners and experts alike, with a popularity stretching from East Asia to Western countries as well. The tiles are housed in a wood box for storage and travel.

Please note: This is the traditional Chinese-style mah jongg set, and not the American variant of the game.

If you take a trip into the wilds of Africa or Asia, an elephant is surely one of the most fascinating animals you could hope to see. This statuette from Thailand's Amporn captures the wisdom and amiable nature of an elephant with its open eyes that look right at you. In addition to the rich brown color of the teak wood and luminous ivory darabela wood tusks, the wrinkles on its skin add texture and realism.

By Thai artisan Waraporn Khamsuk, this domino set offers a unique twist on the traditional tabletop game. Handmade from raintree wood, 56 triangular dominoes or "Trionimoes" come within a handy wooden box. The corner of each domino is hand-painted with colorful dots. This 2-6 player set offers fun for the whole family.

Instructions included.