substantial sculpture

Love is palpable in this joyous sculpture from Eka in Bali. Lips pressed together in a gentle kiss, a couple forms one beating heart with their bodies. The image is enclosed in a larger heart.

With palm facing the heavens, a human hand expresses both praise and gratitude. Balinese artisan Wayan Rendah masterfully carves the signature sculpture from jempini wood and paints it black. The sculpture may also be used as a handsome catchall for desk or dresser.

United in one piece of Ishpingo wood, Joseph, Mary and Joseph are a beloved Holy Family. John Barrow creates the admirable sculpture with the illusion of a jigsaw puzzle that is rich with expressive artistry.

Silhouetted against the sky, sparrows perch on bare winter branches. J. Blas depicts the birds in an iron sculpture for the wall. It is designed with four knobs to hang sweaters, caps or keys.

Balinese sculptor Wayan Rendah evokes the protective embrace of romantic love in a deceptively simplecarving. Endlessly entwined, emerging from a singleblock of richly grained suar wood, the sculptureis a touching symbol of affection for any couple.

This substantial mortar and pestle is crafted from volcanic basalt by the artisans of the Comonfort Group in Mexico. Use it for salsa or guacamole, or simply as an eye-catching decorative accent. It is styled like a traditional molcajete, a stone vessel that has been used since ancient times for grinding or crushing spices and other ingredients.

The artisans recommend that the bowl be "cured" before using with food. To cure the bowl, place some dried beans, corn or rice in the bowl and grind with the pestle until pulverized. Allow the pulverized grain to sit for 15 minutes. Once this has been done, the bowl can be hand washed and allowed to dry. This step will ensure that any stone dust remaining from the carving process does not affect the food.

Called the Umbrella Cockatoo because of its substantial and distinctive crest, the white cockatoo is native to the islands of Indonesia. Guatemalan artisan Mauricio Morales creates its likeness in ceramic, painting it with exquisite detail. The metal legs can be bent around a tree branch for display, if desired.