ancient maya

"I depict a fearless jaguar against a starry sky. This is one of the most beautiful animals that exist — strong, powerful, with a profound gaze," Marina Pallares confides. Working in black and white, she creates a small-scale linoleum block print. The feline held a special place in many Mesoamerican cultures. A resident of the Yucatan peninsula, the small spotted cat was venerated by the ancient Maya, who called it Balam. The renowned Aztec Jaguar warriors, an elite infantry comprised of pre-Hispanic noblemen, wore helmets in the shape of the jaguar, or oceotl. And the Olmec "were-jaguar" — half human, half cat — is a recurrent theme in their art.

Jose Arriola works ceramic at high temperatures on wood and charcoal-fueled grills to bring this sweet family of dalmatians to life. This artisanal method is traditional in his native Guatemala and dates back to the ancient times of the Mayans. Make the perfect gift for dog lovers with this lovely hand-painted dalmatian family!

Jose Arriola works ceramic at high temperatures on wood and charcoal-fueled grills to bring this amusing family of penguins to life. This artisanal method is traditional in his native Guatemala and dates back to the ancient times of the Mayans. Get more than one smile from your guests and loved ones with this decorative hand-painted penguin family!

In order to make this cute set of three bull-shaped figurines, Jose Arriola works ceramic at high temperatures on wood and charcoal-fueled grills, a method that has been used in his native Guatemala since the ancient times of the Mayans. These playful figurines are finally painted by hand and they are all set to bring some color to your spaces.

In order to make this cute set of three cow-shaped figurines, Jose Arriola works ceramic at high temperatures on wood and charcoal-fueled grills, a method that has been used in his native Guatemala since the ancient times of the Mayans. These playful figurines are finally painted by hand and they are all set to bring some color to your spaces.

Working with the ancient woodcut printing technique, dating back to the 7th century in China, Guatemala's Spencer Samayoa honors the divine nature of the jaguar, a symbol of Central America. "This image represents the great power that the jaguar has in the Mayan worldview, and the wings represent freedom," explains the artist while bringing the artwork to life by hand.

This gorgeous piece comes stretched.