ethnic decor

The Ashanti women of Ghana regard this doll as a fertility talisman. They take her along with them everywhere, for the doll is believed to foster conception, preferably a daughter. Winfred Korley celebrates West African beliefs and customs with a hand carved sese wood doll. Dressed in kente cloth, she carries a traditional fertility doll and is visibly pregnant. The artisan names her Akua, a name given to Akan girls who are born on Wednesday.

Akha artisan Thikaporn is proud to present this stunning headdress, hand-crafted by her own mother, Sadaporn. She adorns the cotton headdress with an aluminum trapezoid cap as well as beads and pendants. A waterfall of Thai coins dating from 1952 to 1965 is flanked by multicolored beads carved of little leaf boxwood and glass. Colorful feathers complete the stunning design of this headdress.

Originally from Yunan in China, Akha people live in Thailand's northern hills. Akha women are well known for their spectacular traditional costumes which include a headdress, a jacket worn over a halter-like garment, a short skirt, a sash with decorated ends, and leggings. Akha people are a proud and timeless culture, struggling to preserve their ancestral values through their traditional skills and knowledge. Akhas believe in continuity and see themselves as a link in the chain of life, which includes birth, procreation, the preservation of the Akha way of life – which venerates family life – and death, seen as a meeting with their ancestors.

Breathtakingly beautiful, this stunning decorative headdress is styled after those designed for a bride. Akha artisan Thikaporn is proud to present this admirable headdress, handcrafted by her own mother, Sadaporn. She adorns the cotton headdress with an aluminum trapezoidal cap as well as multicolor pompoms. A waterfall of aluminum coins featuring dragons is flanked by multicolored glass beads to complete the grand design of this wedding headdress.

Originally from Yunan in China, Akha people live in Thailand's northern hills. Akha women are well known for their spectacular traditional costumes which include a headdress, a jacket worn over a halter-like garment, a short skirt, a sash with decorated ends, and leggings. Akha people are a proud and timeless culture, struggling to preserve their ancestral values through their traditional skills and knowledge. Akhas believe in continuity and see themselves as a link in the chain of life, which includes birth, procreation, the preservation of the Akha way of life – which venerates family life – and death, seen as a meeting with their ancestors.

Originally from Yunan in China, Akha people live in Thailand's northern hills. Akha women are well known for their spectacular traditional costumes which include a headdress, a jacket worn over a halter-like garment, a short skirt, a sash with decorated ends, and leggings. Akha artisan Thikaporn is proud to present this stunning headdress, hand-crafted by her own mother, Sadaporn. She adorns the cotton headdress with myriad aluminum beads and pendants, as well as Thai coins dating from 1952 to 1965. Brightly colored beads carved of little leaf boxwood and glass, as well as feathers, complete the stunning design of this headdress.

The Akha people are a proud and timeless culture, struggling to preserve their ancestral values through their traditional skills and knowledge. Akhas believe in continuity and see themselves as a link in the chain of life, which includes birth, procreation, the preservation of the Akha way of life – which venerates family life – and death, seen as a meeting with their ancestors.

Whether decorating for a party or for every day, this fabric floral garland will brighten up your room. Hand crafted by Maria Uyauri of Peru, the garland can be draped over your own display rod.

About her work, Maria Uyauri says, "Each of my designs with their cheerful colors is meant to fill your home with happiness, love and peace."

The legacy of tradition casts a hypnotic spell on the work of the Cárdenas Brothers. Experienced weavers, they create a captivating tapestry featuring five Andean women. The piece is woven of wool on a handloom and shows women's garments, hats and braided hair in clear detail.

Titled "Mujeres" in Spanish.

Leonor Quispe gives an Andean setting to the very first Christmas. While the Wise Men wend their way to the stable, an angel hovers above the manger to watch over the Holy Family. In the sky, the Christmas star illuminates whitewashed homes that cluster amid cactus. Quispe works in the traditional art of arpillera (patchwork) to create this extraordinary wall hanging. Each tiny figure is crafted in three dimensions and lavishly embroidered by hand. A display rod (not included) can be slipped through two loops at the top.

The excitement of the Danza de las Tijeras (scissors dance) permeates this beautiful sculpture. Dressed in vivid colors, competing participants execute contortionist-like maneuvers while holding a pair of scissors in the right hand. John Barrow depicts the dancer in native Andean woods. The statuette receives its colors from wood stains and gilt to form part of a series called "Folklore."

This decorative wood box, hand-carved from rich mahogany, stands ready to hold your most cherished treasures. Artisan Sarwaedi of Bali carves and paints the box and its lid in rich colors with gilded accents. The floral motif evokes the lush gardens of Indonesia.

Precise geometric motifs alternate with birds in an exquisite design. From talented members of Women United for Artisan Development, the cushion cover is woven by hand on a backstrap loom. Cording defines the borders, and the back is solid grey. "We love birds," the artisans confide. "This design was woven by women who live in Quiché, a forested region in western Guatemala."

Should one of the threads snag, they suggest you pull it back into place from the back of the fabric with a fine crochet hook.

Dark waves lap at a sea of crimson as stars twinkle in orderly rows. Faustino Maldonado weaves two dramatic cushion covers with pre-Hispanic motifs. Working on the Andean handloom, he creates his beautiful design in an acrylic and alpaca wool blend. A slot opening at the back permits insertion of the cushions.

A striking expressionist portrait of a Hmong woman adorned in a resplendent traditional headdress that brims with vibrancy and flamboyance is a testament to Thai artist Sakchai's exceptional mastery of color and composition. This evocative acrylic painting captures the essence of female beauty and strength and its background meticulously crafted through the skillful degradation technique features an array of captivating shades of blue that create a stunning visual effect.