painted decor

Working in the folk art style of alebrije sculptures, Mexican duo Pablo and Lucy Mendez create this striking addition to your home decor. Carved of copal wood and painted by hand with dot motifs in fiery tones of red, yellow, and orange, a lithe tree frog splays its limbs.

Alebrijes are a fairly recent Mexican art form, attributed to Pedro Linares. Unconscious due to illness in 1936, he was presumed near death and yet his dreams were extremely vivid. He tells of a place where all was peaceful and quiet until all of a sudden there appeared a lion with an eagle's head, a rooster with bull's horns and a donkey with butterfly wings. They kept screeching "alebrije, alebrije!" and Pedro began running away. He encountered a man who told him it was not yet his time to be there are and he should continue running towards the exit. In this dream Pedro climbed out of a window and regained consciousness.

The Sulawesi Island receives its name thanks to its natural iron deposit, which has brought development and prosperity to the region. As an homage to this stunning place and its natural richness, Balinese artisan Ketut Parwati creates this set of three elephant-themed iron wall accents painted by hand in a palette of red hues. The artwork, featuring traditional motifs, is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, adding a special meaning to the pieces.

Elephants are tender creatures honoured in many cultures, as their image is present in many sacred images. They are often believed to bring prosperity, and have inspired many artists like Thai artisan Nantana Sompamitre. She handcrafts a little elephant sculpture embellished with traditional motifs in black and gold tones, adding a sweet accent to your home decor.