heart statues

Barro negro or "black clay" has been used for centuries in the Mexican state of Oaxaca to craft beautiful decorative and utilitarian objects like this petite, but stunning mini jewellery box designed to store small accessories. The heart-shaped ceramic box is hand-crafted and hand-carved by artisans Fernando and Magali Pedro preserving the barro negro tradition.

A unique drop pattern is carefully hand-carved by artisans Fernando and Magali Pedro on the lid of this beautiful ceramic mini jewellery box crafted by hand with barro negro or "black clay," a material used in the Mexican state of Oaxaca for centuries. The heart-shaped box will allow you to store small pieces of jewellery like a couple of rings or earrings with style.

The arrival each winter of the monarch butterfly is one of the highlights of the season in central Mexico, especially in the state of Michoacán, which has adopted the animal as a symbol. Western Mexican artisan captures the fascination with these butterflies in this papier mache pendant necklace which is hand-painted with their images on a heart.

Roy Nilson finds inspiration in the vintage jewellery from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The style is still popular among Mexico's Mazahua women, who live in the states of Mexico, Michoacan and Queretaro. And their handcrafted jewellery reflects the region's customs with traditional motifs like birds, flowers and leaves. For this dazzling sterling silver pendant, the artisan creates ornate concentric hearts. Crowned by a flower, doves bill and coo as they express their love.

In the Akan language, asuo refers to two people of the same social status, while ahantan means pride. Kwaku Ofosuhene inventively touches upon these ideas in this piece, rendering cultural meanings from the heart of sese wood. Brass, copper, and aluminium sheets adorn the elongated features with fascinating designs, such as the rhinoceros charging across the forehead. Finished in mansion polish, the work is sure to captivate the imagination.

Dewa Putra's exquisite boxed aromatherapy gift set is a sensory awakening experience from the heart of Bali. This enchanting collection features a handmade ivory ceramic incense holder delicately shaped like the captivating plumeria flower accompanied by three packs containing a total of 18 incense sticks. Immerse yourself in the alluring scents of frangipani, ylang-ylang and sandalwood, transporting your mind to a state of tranquility and serenity. Housed in an elegant black box, this set is not only a remarkable addition to your meditation practise but also a perfect gift for any occasion.

Crafted by members of the Lopez Garcia Family of Guatemala, this set of six quitapenas dolls makes a wonderful gift for friends or family that tells the recipient you care about their well-being and wish them the best. Quitapenas means "to remove worries" in Spanish; artisan Aura Lopez explains the Mayan worry doll tradition. "My grandparents said that the way to use them was to take the doll out of the bag or wooden box and tell it your problems and fears," she states. "Then, you place the doll under your pillow and, the next day, your problem becomes smaller or can be resolved." The set consists of three male and three female worry dolls each clasping a red heart to his or her chest and comes with a pouch made from loom-woven cotton. Handmade using tule wood, polyurethane, nylon stockings, kraft paper, and 100% cotton fabric, the dolls are dressed in vividly-coloured traditional Guatemalan attire.

Dr. Sneh Gangal explores the susumna path of kundalini energy as it passes through eight chakras, which she depicts with original stylizations. According to the top line, first on the left is Muladhara, which corresponds to the base of the spine where kundalini lies dormant. It is symbolized by a four-petal lotus featuring its respective mantras. It is followed by Swadhisthan situated above the genitals and thus increases sexual energies and the power to control them. It is represented by six petals holding its distinct mantras for meditation. Next is Manipura chakra above the navel, depicted as a 10 petal lotus with its mantras. This chakra is related to emotions such as shame, fear, inertia, treachery, aversion, ignorance, worldliness, sadness, jealousy and desire, which can be transformed into positive qualities through meditation on this center. The last chakra on this row is Anhata, located at the spinal center of the region of the heart, and symbolized by a twelve-petal lotus featuring the enlightening mantras.

The second line begins on the left with the Visuddha chakra located in the throat, where it is believed the kundalini penetrates the individual's soul to attain purity by seeing the self ( Hansa ) in the heart. The sixteen petals feature their own mantras. This is followed by the Ajna chakra, symbolized by a two-petal lotus believed to reside between the eyebrows and is thus related to all aspects of the mind. The seventh chakra is Sahasrara, symbolized by a thousand-petal lotus and represents the final abode of kundalini. It is believed to be the meeting place of Sakti (female energies) with Shiva (male energies), representing pure consciousness. Its petals are inscribed with all the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. Sahasrara is as lustrous as a thousand full moons and its filaments are tinged with the color of a thousands rising suns. As soon as kundalini ascends into Sahasrara, one enters a region that is inconceivable to the mind and indescribable in speech, a state of realization of oneness of individual soul and the supreme soul. When a yogi reaches this place he is believed to be endowed with the six divine powers: absolute knowledge, sovereignty, power, strength, valor and formidability. Thes powers are said to be God’s essential nature, and they are described in Uddhava Gita in full detail.

The eight paintings represent Soma, a minor chakra seen only by accomplished yogis. Represented by a twelve-petal lotus, it is centered by the A-Ka-Tha triangle where Sakti is represented by three essential aspects: will, action and knowledge.

Each watercolor painting features a cotton-lined card paper mat board.