global gifts

Throughout history, doves have inspired messages of peace and unity. Balinese artisan Made Wirata also draws inspiration from these winged friends to hand-carve a suar wood sculpture of two loving doves atop a globe.

""Where there is love, there will be love. Where there is love, there will be a feeling of peace, both within yourself, your family, and society in the world," says the artisan. "I hope the world will always be at peace. When the world experiences peace, a harmonious world will be created, and the economy will be improving, as part of a peaceful world.

"If we look at the character of doves, we know why they were chosen as a symbol of peace," the artisan continues. "Doves do not like to kill when looking for food, and do not like to fight when attacked by predators.

"Now, in the world, there is so much strife between humans, so much murder, greed, and injustice. Hopefully, humans can imitate the character of the dove sharing feelings of affection, tenderness, and love. This is how the world will become peaceful and serene."

With heads together, two men share a heartfelt embrace. This loving sculpture by Eric Danquah is airy and graceful. Using naturally dried sese wood, the artisan creates a powerful image. "We should love another and let peace and unity be among us. We are one people; we should not hate each other," he says. Accordingly, he names this design Onuado – "Brotherly Love" in the Akan language.

Hands clasped in harmony, two dancers form an unbroken circle of peace. Born of the limitless imagination of Nyoman Karsa, this suar wood sculpture symbolizes earthly peace, harmony and intimacy.

Angel Cerón finds inspiration in the art and beliefs of the Olmeca people to replicate the sculpture of a jaguar holding a man standing on his head. "The original sculpture is from the middle pre-classic period of 1200-400 B.C. and was found in San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, Veracruz," explains the master ceramist. "The ancient Olmeca believed they were descendants of the union between a jaguar and a woman. The actual myth seems to have been lost in time, though many of their celebrations and artistry make reference to the jaguar, especially portraying people with feline facial characteristics including fangs. There used to be a considerable jaguar population in the same region where the Olmeca culture developed, so they regarded the feline as having some connection with their origin. They also believed it to represent both the world of th living, and the underworld," continues Cerón, who crafts the sculpture with yellow clay from the state of Oaxaca creating low and high relief accents and gives it an antiqued finish.

The slender supple forms of a couple romancing are expertly rendered by master carver, Wayan Rendah. This abstract artwork has been created from the beautiful noble wood known as suar. This piece represents a new creativity and the fusion of style that results from global art contact. A harmonious piece with a gentle glowing presence for any home setting.