gifts for artists

Reclaiming discarded pieces of fragrant cedar wood, Victor Hugo Lopez celebrates nature's generosity. He transforms it into a beautiful set of fork and spoon for serving salads. The minimalist styling exalts the natural wood grain.

Crowned with hearts, these spoons from Peten Wood Artisan Sculptors are the ideal kitchen companions, whether for cooking or serving. Each is carved by hand from natural jobillo wood, which is a sustainable wood with brown to dark red and golden hues.

Hand wash with soap and water. Never use a dishwasher or expose the wood to heat sources or water, as they could cause it to warp. To renew the shine, polish the wood with vegetable oil and a soft cloth.

Giorgiana and Miloika Penon design this set of three serving utensils made from teak wood. The set comes with a fork, spoon, and spatula that show off the lovely grain of the wood. The utensils are polished with beeswax to give them luster, and the Costa Rican artisans recommend occasionally polishing them with any edible oil to maintain a soft sheen.

Working with local artisans, Manu of India presents these elegant servers. The pair of servers is crafted from natural buffalo horn with mango wood handles. The set makes a distinctive addition to any table.

Nicaragua Carpenters create an original and modern set of salad servers. They carve them by hand from seasoned caoba wood, its rich brown grain enhancing the design with a slight twist at the base of the handles. "We created this pair for you to be proud to display at the dinner table," the artisans confide.

Hand wash with soap and water. Never use a dishwasher or expose the wood to heat sources or water, as they could cause it to warp. To renew the shine, polish the wood with vegetable oil and a soft cloth.