everyday tops

By Duangkamol, these playful figurines depict two bunny rabbits with expressive ears and faces. She crafts each one of ceramic with turquoise nuances to create the charming pair.

The art of the ancient Incas serves as inspiration for this pair of ceramic pendant necklaces from Peruvian artisan Dina. Decorated with symbols and shapes that recall the ancient culture's architecture and textiles, the pendants are painted by hand using purple, yellow, red, and black colors against a white and blue background. Each pendant is crowned with a tubular bead painted with similar designs and tones and hangs from black nylon cord.

This handcrafted wall mirror by Alejandro Chavez is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that seamlessly blends the artistic traditions of Ayacucho, Peru, with contemporary decorative elements. Its wooden frame, meticulously hand-carved and painted, bursts with vibrant colors and delicate floral designs that elegantly frame the central composition. At its heart lies the mirror itself, radiating light and adding visual depth while reflecting not only its surroundings but also the profound cultural and spiritual connection of the Andean people to their heritage. Surrounding the mirror, intricately hand-molded and painted ceramic figurines bring to life everyday and festive scenes from rural Andean life: farmers working the land, musicians playing traditional instruments and dancers dressed in vivid regional attire. Adding further dimension, the piece prominently features a nativity scene and a depiction of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, each rendered with exquisite detail and reverence.

Charoensri of Thailand creates this pair of ceramic incense holders in the form of an elephant carrying a lotus flower, both important symbols in Thai culture. The lotus flower is often a symbol of enlightenment, and the elephant has long been celebrated for its longevity, endurance, and strength. The incense holders are glazed in blue with a crackled finish and have a small hole at the top for placing an incense stick. They can also be used with cone incense.

The artisan describes how she began her journey in ceramics: “I visited a friend’s ceramics factory and I observed each step in the process. Seeing my interest, my friend persuaded me to try this work. Immediately, I began learning from skilled artisans. Finally, I was ready to design my own ceramics.”