handcrafted decor

Francis Agbete sets the birth of Jesus in an African palm house. Carved by hand from kapok wood, this charming nativity scene depicts the Holy Family in traditional Ghanaian dress. The Three Kings bring gifts to the Christ child, accompanied by a messenger and a farmer.

Reflecting Peruvian carnival traditions, this fantastic retablo depicts a group of artisans peddling their handcrafted masks. Jose Ramos designs the festive retablo, crafted of wood with hand-painted ceramic figurines inside. Floral motifs decorate the doors, which can be displayed open or closed.

Alejandro Chávez crafts a mirror frame rooted in Andean tradition with four different vignettes. At the top, people harvest tunas, the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus. To the left, merchants offer warm blankets in a market stall and to the right they sell handcrafted masks. Used during the Carnival celebrations preceding Lent, the masks appear in an astonishing array of animals, human and fantasy faces. Along the bottom, dancers perform the Scissors Dance. Known as retablos, these traditional dioramas feature figures carefully molded from ceramic plaster and painted by hand.

Diverse scenes representative of the Ayacucho region of Peru comprise this handcrafted retablo, a unique style of Andean folk art. The altar-like composition is divided into several shelves, populated by colorful figures and expressions of native customs. In the upper space, Alejandro Chavez recreates the birth of Jesus, as men and women dressed in traditional Peruvian attire look on proudly. The frame is made from wood, while the artist uses ceramic figures and vibrant paints to evoke the vast tapestry of human emotions.

This handcrafted retablo by Jose Ramos sets the first Christmas in the Peruvians. Graceful three-dimensional flowers and vines cover both sides of the doors. Inside, a shepherds and a llama accompany the Holy Family as celebrate the baby in the manger. The entire diorama is awash in rich earthen tones.