hope sculpture

Add a touch of warmth and joy to your holiday decor with this lovely nativity figurine by Maria Estela Perlera Portillo. It depicts the Holy Family as they embrace under the Star of Bethlehem. It's sculpted from pine wood and hand-painted in a bright palette of deep blue, violet, and bright yellow.

Maria Estela Perlera de Portillo started her workshop alongside her husband. After he passed away, she decided to take the reins of the family business and continue to grow it.

"I made this sculpture as a tribute to life," confides John Barrow. "The different colors represent the joy of life, of feeling, and of having hope for the future. Its optimism is contagious." Barrow crafts the sculpture with hand-carved segments of cedar, mahogany and ishpingo woods. He stains the woods with colorful natural dyes.

Music and nature come together to create a country full of rhythm and magic. Inspired by the things that make Costa Rica an amazing place, artisan Jorge Leiton handcrafts a pinewood figurine of the traditional marimba, painting a natural scene of butterflies, symbolizing hope for the future.

Add a truly fantastical touch to your home with this magnificent Pegasus alebrije. Pablo and Lucy Mendez hand-carve it from coal wood in an imposing stance with its wings gloriously spread. A hand-painted pattern in bright yellow, seafoam blue, white, and olive green pops against the creature's black background. This alebrije comes with removable wings and tail for safe shipping. An assembly manual is included for easy setup.

Pablo and Lucy enjoy blending traditional techniques with modern influences in their work to create innovative designs. They hope to keep Oaxaca's tradition of alebrije carving alive through their colourful pieces.

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 centrepiece is the Virgin of Guadalupe, surrounded by candles that symbolize the hope-filled prayers many make in her name.

African legends tell of a woman called Akua who wished strongly to have a child. To make her wish come true, a priest ordered her to carry a little wooden baby, resulting in the mockery of her neighbors. But her faith and devotion were finally answered with a beautiful child blessed by the gods. Inspired by this story, Akoma of West Africa handcrafts a fertility doll from sese wood, hoping to carry Akua's resilience to every corner of the world.