may necklaces

Crafted of pinewood, a round pendant centers this necklace from Guatemala. Iliana Hernandez designs the necklace, carefully elaborating it with hand-painted designs that are inspired by ancient Mayan motifs. The necklace circles the wearer on an adjustable length of faux suede cord.

"Enjoy this beautiful necklace and may your good deeds be more in number than the beads strung on this necklace," encourages Ila Suleyman. He calls his design Maneray, the Mossi term for good deeds. The Mossi are predominantly millet and cattle farmers who use cow hide and other natural materials to create various items including jewelry and accessories. Suleyman crafts the necklace by hand in a palette of warm earth hues featuring glistening agates, terracotta and sese wood beads. A bone pendant painted with batik techniques centers the necklace featuring recycled plastic beads at both sides. Closes with a brass clasp.

The bright cotton kente cloth this man wears is known as akwajan, and may only be worn by the Chief of the Ga people, as well as the Queen Mother. Winfred Korley shares the customs of southern Ghana with this hand-carved sese wood sculpture of a man wearing a yellow beaded necklace too. Finely detailed, the sculpture features an aged finish.

A Maya woman sits with legs crossed as she works on a backstrap loom. Rocking back and forth she controls the tension as she creates an expanse of cloth. "This movement represented the human heartbeat, thus weaving was a sacred act for the ancient Maya, and weavers were considered the 'mothers of creation,'" Nicolas Chavez Sojuel explains. He works in fragrant cedar wood to depict his subject as realistically as did the pre-Hispanic ceramists of Jaina Island more than a thousand years ago in their "Female Figure with Loom." Deftly carving intricate details with superb realism, the Guatemalan artisan dresses the woman in a necklace of pinewood beads.

Wearing only a belt, necklace, and bracelets, this Mayan goddess is realized with striking detail in cedar wood. Nicolas Chavez Sojuel explores Guatemala's Mayan roots, working with local artisans to hand-carve this sculpture. According to Sojuel, this sculpture reflects the story of the God of Maize's resurrection. According to the story, there exist nude goddesses in the Mayan underworld, Xibalbá, who tend to the god and dress him in preparation for his resurrection. One of these goddesses is portrayed in this sculpture.

A master artisan of handmade dolls, Iliana Hernandez creates this wood decorative doll to celebrate her Mayan heritage. Perfect for brightening the living room, this doll catches the eye with its handmade yellow huipil, dark multicolor striped skirt, purple necklace and vibrant headdress. The brown-stained wooden base features a felt lining to protect soft surfaces.