wood figurine

Mexico's Day of the Dead festivities are unlike any other country's, but skulls are part of the national shared imagery and are a favorite subject for artisans all year. After this hand carved copal wood skull from Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of the Mexican state of Oaxaca is covered in navy blue paint with tiny sky blue dots, it is further decorated on the tops and sides with circles containing geometric figures and curving lines. Yellow, black, green, purple, and pink tones are utilized to hand paint the fanciful designs. Around the blackened eye sockets are outlines in yellow and red; the nasal cavity is delineated in purple. Two straight rows of white teeth give the skull a sober expression.

Skulls are a recurrent theme in Mexican handicrafts, reflecting the convivial and familiar attitudes of the Mexican people towards death. Artisans in San Martín Tilcajete in the state of Oaxaca apply their vast wood carving knowledge to various subjects, including skulls. Jesus and Roxana Hernandez of San Martín present a hand-carved copal wood skull figurine in a rich terracotta hue. The green, blue, and yellow circles containing geometric patterns on the skull's top and sides are meticulously painted by hand. Green borders surround the black eye sockets and nasal cavities while a red line separates the top row of immaculately white teeth from the bottom row.

In an homage to José Guadalupe Posada's "La Calavera Catrina", Mexico's Jorge Escamilla creates this fun sculpture. Wearing overalls and carrying a saw and a wooden board, the skeletal carpenter is crafted of clay and steel wire. The original "La Calavera Catrina" was a zinc etching created by the artist José Guadalupe Posada in Mexico around 1910. Posada created the character, a female skeleton with an elegant hat, as a satirical portrait to lampoon Mexican natives who aspired to European style and denied their own heritage. The catrina has since become an emblem of Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration and a popular folk art subject.

Who said Halloween has to be eerie? Bring some cuteness and charm to your space during the spookiest season of the year with this figurine of an adorable duck all decked up with a pumpkin and skull-themed suit and ready to go trick-or-treating. Expertly painted and carved by hand from bamboo roots and teakwood, this endearing decorative accent designed by Java’s Ira S. is sure to make your Halloweens unforgettable.