subtle decor

Hypnotizing circles in a variety of colors decorate the perimeter of this rectangular photo frame. Indian artisan Riris Simanjuntak designs the photo frame, crafting it with tightly-wound recycled newspaper.

Featuring a prominent nose, this eyeglasses holder from Java is carved by hand from wadang wood. Traditional batik designs and floral motifs are painted by hand with a wax resist before the holder is decorated with colorful dyes. Gunadi presents this charming addition to your home decor.

Recalling the elegance of the ancient Majapahit kingdom in eastern Java, Balinese artisan Sarwaedi creates this elegant lidded box. The decorative box is hand-carved from mahogany with a floral relief and painted in rich colors with gilded accents. The word cupu means "small box" in the Indonesian language.

Blossoming everywhere, roses fill the senses with their color and fragrance on a summer afternoon. Ana Maria Gonzalez crafts a decoupage jewelry box of enchanting beauty, trimmed with gilt. It opens to reveal a mirror inside the lid.

In all the colors of a fiesta, cotton yarns are handwoven together on a traditional backstrap loom. They create the intricate stripes and X patterns of this shawl from Guatemala. Elena Ixtamer creates this artisanal shawl, which is sure to turn heads wherever it goes. Hand-knotted fringe work accents the ends of this marvelous accessory.

A pure white field blooms with the subtle movements of blue and pink flowers, their scalloped outlines bordered in gilded splendor. The work requires intense patience, as Asunta Pelaez paints the motifs on the reverse side of glass panes. Reflecting the artistic traditions of Cajamarca, Peru, this wall mirror offers a luminous accent to any decor.

Inject playfulness into your decor with this delightful owl figurine from Guatemalan artisan Jose Arriola. Handcrafted from ceramic using time-honored Mayan techniques, its light blue hue adds a touch of charm. Meticulously hand-painted details bring the owl to life with a subtle personality. This fabulous accent will bring life to any space needing a dash of whimsy.

Add a splash of color to your home decor with this gorgeous pair of cushion covers from artisans Hari and Arthur of Bali. Both sides of the covers are patterned with eye-catching abstract firework plumes in shades of forest green, ginger, maize, and dove grey over a lovely snow white cotton base. One edge of each cover features a subtle zipper for easy insertion of a cushion.

This precious mobile handcrafted in El Salvador features a round base made from pinewood expertly lined with cotton yarn using the macrame technique. Designed by Fatima Dawson, it boasts four lovely motifs shaped like a leaf, a star, the moon and a rainbow, adorned with jute cord accents and cute pom-poms. This delightful mobile is a versatile decorative accessory that can enhance any space thanks to its palette of subtle ivory, peach and emerald hues.

This masterfully carved decorative vase from Sarwaedi of Bali was inspired by the Javanese legend of Naga Baru Klinting. The subtle application of paint and gilded accents give the vase the appearance of a treasured antique.

According to the legend, Baru Klinting was a dragon who promised a sage that he could circle the whole Merapi Volcano in Central Java to prove that he was the sage's son, but failed to do so. The dragon used his tongue instead, which enraged the sage, and the sage swung a sword to cut his tongue. The dragon fell to the earth. Then people living near the volcano cut up the dragon's body and took it home to make a feast. Suddenly, a midget appeared and put a stick in the earth, and said that he would take all of the dragon's meat if no one was capable of removing the stick. People tried because they didn't want to lose their chance for a feast, but none were able to do it. The midget then removed the stick from the ground, and suddenly in that spot water started to flood the whole village, turning the village into a spring that is present to this day. Later on, another sage revealed that the midget was the soul of the dragon, enraged with the people that tried to eat his body.

Hand-carved from sese wood, this sculpture depicts a beautifully ornamented mask. Ghanaian designer Rita Addo Zakour names this sculpture Biakoye, an Akan word meaning "one love". The face is painted in subtle tones of green, yellow and white, while the head is crowned in brownish-red. Embossed aluminum plating adorns the mask, which sits on a yellow and black semi-circular base.

Balinese artisan Sarwaedi presents this charming decorative box, inspired by the Indonesian island of Serangan. The island is known primarily for its population of turtles, depicted here in a veritable turtle paradise. The artisan hand-carves clouds, reeds, and water and applies subtle touches of gilt and colored paints to emphasize the design.