lovely clothing

Hand-painted leaf motifs in blue and yellow adorn adorn the pendant of this lovely necklace. Designed by Anuva Baid of India, the pendant is crafted of ceramic set in sterling silver, finished with a glaze to give it a sheen.

Inspired by Mexico's traditional Maria dolls, Maria Isabel Cruz creates this ceramic wall plaque. It depicts a lovely doll, realized in a variety of colours against a red background. The artisan works in the centuries-old tradition known as the dry rope technique, in which a wax mixture made of magnesium oxide and fat are applied to the outlines of the image or motif prior to glazing. The wax mixture creates a barrier that keeps the different fill colours in the design separate during firing, before burning off to reveal the blackened ceramic beneath. A length of nylon cord on the back provides for easy hanging.

The charming doll originated in Mexico City when many Otomi and Mazahua people migrated to the capital in the 1970s. Due to their unique traditional clothing, the women became known as "Marias." An educational program was established for them and artist Diego Rivera's daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marin, encouraged crafting these popular rag dolls as a way to generate income in the 1980s. Artisan women took the idea home to their Mazahua and Otomi towns and the dolls became popular throughout Mexico and abroad.

Male rose-breasted grosbeaks, resplendent in a striking palette of black, white and rose-red hues, offer a breathtaking spectacle of colour and beauty. Guatemala’s Mauricio Morales brings this awe-inspiring creature to life in a meticulously hand-painted ceramic figurine. Every stroke of his brush is infused with a delicate touch, ensuring the preservation of its lovely shades with a protective wax coating. This versatile lifelike decorative accent can adorn both indoor and outdoor spaces as the bird stands gracefully on aluminium wire legs and its feet can be entwined around a perch or branch.