gifts we love

Prosperity and fortune are exquisitely personified in Lakshmi, surrounded by floral vines. With one hand raised, she smiles serenely. Suresh and Devender Garg presents this sculpture of the beautiful goddess, hand-carved from kadam wood with intricate details.

El Salvador's Marcela Moran creates this charming and natural nativity sculpture celebrating love and tranquility in Bethlehem. Atop a round base of cortez wood, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus are crafted from jute, dried gourd and agave fibers. The holy trio is clothed with 100% cotton attire hand-woven in a traditional loom.

"This nativity line was created as a way of reevaluating an underestimated and little valued natural fiber which has great potential. It can be used for many things and we transform it into decorative pieces with multicolored touches from the handmade fabric that complements it," Moran says.

Watching over their tiny son, Mary and Joseph smile. Above them, the three kings bring offerings to the Christ child. Shepherds worship and angels sing in the heavens above. Alejandro Chávez portrays the nativity on four levels in three dimensions. This traditional diorama is known as a retablo; each figurine is modeled and painted by hand.

From the delicate petals of a carved lotus blossom, a seated Buddha emerges, framed by floral latticework. Master woodcarver Wayan Rendah uses local suar wood to carve this statuette, achieving remarkable details. Rendah presents the Buddha figure in a peaceful and meditative state with his eyes closed. The Buddhist teaching of love and meditation plays an important role in the Balinese Hindu belief system. In short, Buddhism preaches that a wholesome existence guided by the right thinking, conduct, livelihood, mindfulness, and concentration will release one from the painful cycle of life and death.

This lovely Buddha's head is from talented Balinese artisan Made Mulyani. Carved by hand from native suar wood, the intricate detailing of Buddha's tightly curled coils and peaceful expression is truly remarkable. Buddha wears an urna in the middle of his forehead, which is a symbol of seeing into the divine world. The statuette has a beautiful natural finish, with the grain of the wood accentuating the peaceful aura of the statuette.