praying hands

With a feminine aura and a profound message of faith, Balinese artisan Putri Ety's newest sculpture depicts a woman praying with hope. Working in crocodile wood, the artisan hand-carves each detail with dedication, making a sublime creation.

Luxuriously gowned in an antique silver hue, a dancer personifies Yemanjá, the goddess of all the earth's waters and mother of all Candomblé orixás.

The Candomblé religion is widely observed in northeastern Brazil. The name derives from kandombele, a Congolese-Angolan word meaning "to pray." Practiced in South America since slaves were brought over from Africa by the Portuguese, it combines Yoruban practices with Roman Catholic imagery. The orixás, or gods, are the forces of the earth; song and dance are a form of worship, and the dance impersonates the god, inspiring myths and legends.

As an homage to the doctrine's cultural richness, Hugo Negrini crafts an image that is both stunning and ethnographically correct. He first carves the image in wood, taking as long as 50 or 60 days, depending on the degree of detail in the piece. When the statuette is ready, he makes a silicone rubber mold and casts the sculpture in resin.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is a venerated saint in Latin America to whom countless miracles are attributed. Inspired by her faith and hope, Peruvian artisan Erika Ulloa crafts this traditional Andean retablo from wood and ceramic, adding floral details. The centerpiece is the Virgin of Guadalupe, surrounded by candles that symbolize the hope-filled prayers many make in her name.

A golden aura surrounds Jesus Christ's sacred heart, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Mexico's Mariana Gonzalez works on pinewood to create this sublime wall accent, hand-painted with love and faith for a better world.

Inspired by Mexico's spiritual tradition, Mariana Gonzalez creates a magnificent wall accent portraying Christianity's sacred heart. Working on pinewood, the artisan puts her faith and talent into each detail that composes the piece, which is later hand-painted in red and golden hues to remind you of heaven's glory.