5,000 of our very best gifts
organized by recipients & interest
Our experts have put together
the best of the gift sets for you
We'll help you build your own
amazing gift sets
Get them in 2-4 business days!
Everyone loves them
1M+ happy customers·100% Happiness Guaranteed
Loved by over 1 million customers·100% Happiness Guaranteed
Over 1 million happy customers
All the artisans are so incredibly talented! Love browsing and shopping from these talented artists! Just beautiful!”
— Christina Daly
Service is excellent, fast delivery, It really surprised me that I received it so fast. It arrived today, in a very nice ethnic bag and a card with warm personal greetings. Thank you so much.”
— Sima
Fast shipping and well packaged for a long journey! Very highly recommend! Thank you so much!”
— Janice
Fast shipping… Very well packaged! Arrived perfectly! I highly recommend anything offered on this site! Truly thanks from my heart!”
— Janice
It just arrived already, faster than I expected. This is so awesome!!! Very unique and stylish. Love it!! Thank you.”
— Daniel
Novica’s shipping and care is beyond awesome. My go-to place for gifts.”
— Carolyn
Fast shipping, well packaged! Unique design! Beautifully crafted! Highly recommend!”
— Janice
Simply exquisite. The craftmanship, customer service, packaging, and delivery are prompt and thorough as always.”
— Kathleen
I am so delighted! The craftsmanship is exquisite. I was also very pleased with the excellent customer service from Novica. Tracking and updates were a breeze! Thank You!”
— Merrie Beth
I’ve been shopping at Novica for the last 4 years. I love the unique items, reasonable costs, and helping the artists make a fair profit on the goods they worked so hard to produce.”
— Vandna Rani
Handmade items support artists and that makes me feel honored to have a piece of their heart.”
— Julie Lynn Wasson
Handmade means the person designed and took time to create, which makes it unique and far more interesting than massmade items.”
— Annette Duran
Handmade pieces feel alive — they tell a story, hold emotion, and bring warmth that no factory could ever create.”
— Angela Arm
I discovered Novica many years ago. I love Novica’s mission and the opportunities it provides to so many artisans around the world.”
— Miriam Noble Gallardo
I have been shopping at Novica for years. Love that everything is handmade and that each purchase makes a difference to that artist.”
— Lilium
Great gifts at great prices. What’s not to love — a great artisan-made gift for the same or lesser price than commercially-made, mass produced. This is better all around.”
— Maria
So well made and of such beautiful quality, I can't wait for the holidays!!! This is a perfect gift!! Also, the wrapping is sooo pretty…. Novica has the best gifts & the best quality!! Shipping is so fast also!!”
— Jordan
I love buying gifts from here. Wonderful quality and unique designs. Customer service is wonderful. Thank you all.”
— Barbara
I have ordered from Novica numerous times and never been disappointed.”
— Enid
The quality and workmanship is fantastic and I couldn't be happier. I will buy from Novica again and again and again. Thank you so much.”
— Elizabeth
Fine quality and detail, perfect gift, well received and much loved. Thank you!”
— Katrina
Shop with confidence
This colorful box depicts the first Christmas. Alejandro Chávez crafts a traditional retablo (diorama) in the regional style of Ayacucho. The Holy Family and the three kings are modeled of clay and painted by hand. Beneath them, villagers harvest the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus.
Purchased this? Leave your review.
Artist rating
Total reviews
206
Verified Reviewer
My daughter loves this. Beautiful colors.
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes (1)
No (0)
Verified Reviewer
Bought as a gift and they loved it. Thank you.
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes (0)
No (0)
Verified Reviewer
Very bright colors and beautiful details! A great piece of true folk art. This is my second retablo from Alejandro Chavez, and this time it is a gift. I am sure my brother and his wife will love this unique piece of art. Thank you, Alejandro!
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes (0)
No (0)
Verified Reviewer
Absolutely gorgeous! Very well made.
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes (0)
No (0)
Verified Reviewer
I love folk art and primitive art and this is a treasure! Great price and a focal piece at Christmas!
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes (0)
No (0)
Verified Reviewer
This lovely handmade item is well crafted and so unique! This is a perfect addition to my world travels mask collection I modified it to hang on the wall with my other masks. It is truly a treasure! Came well packaged and completely intact. Alejandro, thank you for this wonderful piece!
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes (0)
No (0)
You can find our retablo 'Blue Christmas' by Alejandro Chavez in holiday decor & ornaments categories such as Christian Nativity Scenes, Christmas Nativity Scenes, Nativity Nativity Scenes, Religious Nativity Scenes and Retablos Nativity Scenes. Enjoy exploring these sections for other Novica treasures.
Profound Impact
Novica sales provide Alejandro's family workshop with a steady cash flow. These sales account for nearly half of their monthly income, helping to ensure their survival. Markets and other seasonal outlets provide supplemental income that contributes to their annual living expenses. In the coming years, Alejandro hopes to grow his workshop and better his family by increasing his Novica sales.
Preserving Traditions
At school in Ayacucho, Alejandro began to learn the indigenous art of Andean retableria. Seeking to refine his craft, he apprenticed at the workshop of Angel Castro to learn the secrets of a master retablista. Upon his teacher's death, Alejandro founded his own workshop. There he began to incorporate his wife's modeled figures into his traditional retablos. Today Alejandro's nephews are his apprentices and his family workshop continues to craft their beloved retablos, which recount the culture and traditions of the Andes.
Enabling Education
One year away from his 50th birthday, Alejandro and his wife adopted a son and a daughter (Jose and Carol) from their hometown. Today Alejandro continues to provide for the education of his children and his grandchild, who joined the family in 2018. His daughter Carol is studying accounting and his son Jose is at the police academy.
Microcredit Financing
Alejandro Chavez has received 4 microcredit loans with 0% interest from Kiva and Novica, the first for $800 and the most recent for $1100. Proceeds were used to invest in the purchase of raw materials such as plaster, ceramic, plywood and paint.
Covering Basic Needs
This artist striving to supporting their own or their family's basic needs and improve their livelihood.
"Over the years, I perfected my abilities and became a master retablo craftsman. In some, I depict Biblical scenes and, in others, everyday life in the Andes."
Alejandro Chavez was born in Lima in 1956. He specializes in creating retablos, a kind of reverent diorama-altar typical of the Ayacucho region of... read more