unusual decor

This highly unusual nativity scene set features the typical personages — Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Wise Men and angel, but all depicted as skeletal figures a la Day of the Dead. They are created by Juan and Carolina of Chichicastenango, Guatemala from pinewood and hand-painted.

Wayan Kandiyasa explores unusual perspectives, depicting a woman in a stylized sandstone sculpture. Her young face is innocent as she dreams of beautiful moments. Frangipani flowers adorn her graceful gown.

Cheek to cheek, sweethearts crown this elegant mask, superbly carved by hand. From Eka, it showcases the unusual grain of natural hibiscus wood. This wood varies widely in its tones and patterns, thus each mask is an absolutely unique work of art. "What we share with our soulmate sometimes seems like a perfect dream. I dedicate my feelings and best memory of love, always in my mind," the Balinese artisan confides.

Jizo, a beloved deity in the Buddhist pantheon, is believed to protect the spirits of children who have passed away. Eka in Bali presents this wonderful statuette, styled after traditional Jizo sculptures which are usually carved in stone. It is carved from hibiscus wood, which has an unusual colouration and grain.

An unusual pair of friends will fill your evenings with music and joy. This pair of ocarinas is handmade by Peruvian artisan Dionisio Quilla, inspired by the nature of his beloved country. The ocarinas represent a cheerful frog and a tender bird that will get more than one smile as home decor.

Seen in silhouette, dragons seem to take flight from the roof of Wat Rong Khun. The temple, located in Chiang Rai, is the work of Chalermchai Kositpipat. White represents Buddha's purity, and white glass insets symbolize the Master's brightly shining wisdom. Begun in 1998, the temple's unusual contemporary architecture captivates photographer Ryan Chappell.

He prints the color photograph on Fujicolor crystal archive paper and mounts it with a mat board passe-partout.