diversity sculpture

Guatemalan artisan Mauricio Morales creates a ruby-throated hummingbird fanning its feathers in this ceramic figurine. The artisan hand sculpts and hand paints this lovely bird with meticulous detail to capture the species likeness. Ready to be posed in your home or patio, the aluminum wire legs and feet can bend to position the bird to your liking.

This ceramic figurine of a yellow-headed parrot looks up alertly, ready to be posed in your home or patio. Guatemalan artisan Mauricio Morales hand sculpts and hand paints this lovely bird with meticulous detail to capture the species' likeness. The aluminum wire legs and feet can bend to position the bird to your liking.

Jose Canil Ramos combines Guatemala's Day of the Dead customs with Christian traditions for the design of this extraordinary nativity scene. "I thought it would be fun to make it with innocent skeletons," explains Canil. He carves each pinewood figurine by hand, allowing each piece to bake to achieve an aged, rustic appearance. This nativity scene includes the Holy Family, the Three Kings, and angel, and mule and an ox, for a total of nine pieces.

Joseph's hand and staff, as well as the angel's wings are removed for shipping.

Mauricio Morales crafts a small ceramic bird figurine that features exquisite hand painted detailing. "The process for making these small animals was something I learned when I was small...since then it has become a passion of mine," says the Guatemalan artisan, adding that the bird sculpture is made for, "...all of those who love birds." He starts by mixing the clay and carefully shaping the figure, and then he adds aluminum legs and feet. After the bird is fired, he sands it, mixes his own colors and paints the figurine. The result is a charming, meticulously decorated representation of a snowy owl, complete with tuftless head, small yellow eyes, and white plumage with hints of grey.

Dressed in a cloak of flowers that spread to his wings, the Angel of Serenity comes from the creative imagination of Manuel Delfino. "This angel is from a series of sculptures that I created inspired by those beings of light that protect and accompany us. Many people believe in them, so I created this collection of angels for them," explains the Guatemalan artisan. He hand-carves the angelic sculpture of pinewood featuring removable wings, and finishes the sculpture with an aged, rustic appearance.

A jaguar feasts on a human heart, torn from the chest of a sacrificial victim. Etching the image into jade, Ruben and Gilda Perez depict an icon from the Platform of Eagles and Jaguars at Chichen Itza in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It is believed to refer to the fiercest of Maya fighting men, known as Jaguar Warriors.

The Guatemalan artisans display the plaque on a black pinewood base.