mothers rings

With finely detailed filigree in sterling silver, this cocktail ring is handcrafted in the shape of a lotus blossom. Following in her mother's footsteps, Indonesia's Yuli works with local artisans to present this wonderful piece of jewelry.

The waribang, or hibiscus, is a flower native to Indonesia that is well-known for its wide petals and long stamens. Inspired by its beauty, this cocktail ring features a filigree crown, handcrafted from sterling silver. Working with Balinese artisans, Yuli presents this design as she follows in the footsteps of her mother.

Evident from the hearts that fly into the air, an Andean mother is filled with love for her child. Peruvian artisan Maria Ramos Sanchez designs this charming cell phone bag, crafted by hand from cotton blend material in the traditional style of arpillera patchwork. Draped over the shoulder on a colorful strap, this bag opens with a zipper to a lined interior.

Napapat successfully combines tradition with today's trend in the design of this bracelet. She braids the waxed cord by hand following legendary techniques that have been handed down from mother to daughter. She incorporates a luminous hoop of silver that has been crafted and hammered by hand by expert Karen hill tribe silversmiths.

.950 Silver

A skeletal figure, she stands with her hands raised in the posture of women who die in childbirth. Artisans from the Angel Cerón Artisan Association sculpts the image of Coatlicue, "She of the serpent skirt." The Mexica earth goddess and mother of the gods, her image bears the symbol "Eight Malinalli, or "grass." Her son Huitzilopochtli, the sun god and god of war, defended her from the powers of the night.

The artisans bathe the image in earth to give it the effect of a recent archaeological discovery.

This adorable key fob is hand crafted by Claudio Ojeda in Mexico. The panda alebrije is carved from copal wood and painted in black and white and myriad patterns and shapes in pink and purple. The wood figurine adorns a stainless steel key ring. The artisan signs his pieces with the initials "T.C.", which represent his initial "C" preceded by his mother Teresita's initial "T". Claudio learned the art of crafting alebrijes from his mother.

The folk art tradition of alebrijes dates back to the 1930's in Mexico City. A man named Pedro Linares was taken ill, and in his fevered dreams he saw a strange land populated with curious creatures--a donkey with wings, a rooster with bull's horns, and a lion with the head of a dog. The beasts all shouted "alebrije! alebrije!". Upon his recovery, Linares began recreating the fantastical creatures he had seen in his dream. The art form gained popularity, and alebrijes are now made of wood as well as papier mache.

The lotus blossom — Buddha's favorite offering — forms a halo behind the head of a person who sits in meditation. Made Wardika carves the beautiful image of bone, delicately tinted with tea. It is worn on a necklace of dark brown leather.

Thai artisan Jantana designs this sterling silver bracelet which features a pendant centering a rolo chain. The pendant, hand-cut from a sheet of silver, shows the figures of three friends holding hands. The bracelet features a brushed-satin finish and closes with a spring-ring clasp.