original wall art

This lovely wall mirror is the original design of Peru's Gliseria Soto, who take inspiration from the gilded ornamentation of Cusco colonial art. The frame is crafted from wood which has been covered with lustrous bronze leaf. Surrounding the small round mirror at the center are yet smaller round mirrors and marquise-shaped mirror "petals".

A master of reverse painting on glass, artisan Flora Polo draws on decades of experience to create this original wall mirror in her workshop in Peru, merging a frame, glass, paint and patience to portray the warmth of her country. Peru's summery stylistic origins lie in the fusion of local indigenous and southern European cultures, especially visible in this wall mirror, which incorporates reverse painting on glass, a technique brought from Europe, with floral styles typical of local Peruvian art, crowned by golden borders and a rich turquoise hue nostalgic of the warm Mediterranean climate.

A vibrant ensemble of Peruvian custom, this traditional retablo is transformed into an exceptional picture frame by Alejandro Chávez. Retablos originally featured religious passages and now Chavez uses this art form to showcase Peruvian traditions as in the lower panel he recreates the colorful revelry of an Andean feast. The side panels flanking the photograph depict quotidian scenes and the upper panel stages the collection of the tuna, a fruit of enticing flavor that grows on the prickly pear cactus. Chavez handcrafts this piece from wood and fills it with myriad personages well defined and detailed.

Saint John and Mary accompany Jesus as he expires on the cross in an original interpretation by the Montalvo Family. They carve the Byzantine-style cross from cedar wood, procuring the moving imagery in high relief. The Montalvo Family uses oil paints to accentuate the vivid and expressive faces, while bronze leaf is used for their golden halos. Predominant colors are browns and creams over a dark red background.

Reverse-painted glass, introduced to Peru in the 17th century, is now a revered Peruvian art form. The Ortiz Family brings to this craft a unique conflux of influences. Their repetitive geometrical and symmetrical patterns owe their origins to Inca pottery, but their coloration is drawn from the multi-hued blue and gold tiles found in North Africa and Spain. Our glass-topped wooden tray is handcrafted in the family’s workshop in Peru.