family figurines

By artisan duo Guillermo and Eduardo, this Peruvian figurine depicts an Andean family. Wearing wide-brimmed hats, a husband, wife, and their baby travel together with a burro, or donkey. This figurine is crafted from ceramic and diligently painted by hand.

For a charming and whimsical addition to your home decor, this sculpture from Peru depicts a Parisian cat. The cat wears a beret and striped scarf as it holds a glass of wine and smiles. John Barrow designs this impressive sculpture, which is crafted of several colorful wood pieces that are each carved by hand and assembled like a puzzle.

"This type of spoon is used by the head of the family from the Dan tribe during their first harvest season," says Salihu Ibrahim as he explains the traditions of this Ivoirian tribe. "Some of the harvested crops are cooked during a large family gathering. After the meal, the head of the family and the elders dance with hands raised high to thank the gods for blessing their land so they can have more crops to feed them, as well as asking the gods for a bumper harvest in subsequent seasons. As they dance, the head of the family holds the spoon in his hands." Ibrahim carves the sese wood sculpture by hand, masterfully detailing a nude male figure.

Often used to represent certain people, families, clans, lineages, and tribes in Native American cultures, this totem will add a touch of history to your home decor. Gio hand-carves this statuette from a single piece of albesia wood, featuring a high degree of detail. A bird perches atop the head of a grimacing figure, given a dark, antiqued finish.

Working in ceramic, Dionisio Rojas depicts two whimsical bulls wearing flowers. The torito de Pucará is celebrated during cattle branding ceremonies to ensure the animals will be fertile, and it is believed that the little bull guards families and households. A fusion of native Andean and Spanish imagery, these fancifully decorated bulls are crafted in ceramic in the Ayacucho town of Pucará.

George Obeng uses naturally dried ebony wood to create this graceful figure, exquisitely carved by hand. Its name means "golden carrier woman and her child" in the Ga Adangbe language. With a baby tied to her back, a young Ghana mother bears a heavily loaded basket on her head, hiring out her strength as a carrier to support her family.

Obeng voices his social and human concerns through his art, as it serves as a vehicle to express his profound concern for injustice and poverty. His work has been exhibited across the world, testifying to the universal resonance of his themes.

Because of the nature of ebony wood there often exist marked tonal variations, adding to the attraction of the carving. A wax finish further highlights the grain's beauty.