NOVICA and Primitives By Kathy Tropical Decorative Objects and Figurines

This original mask of hope is by Ghanaian artisan Abdul Aziz Mohamadu. Displayed on an iron stand, the mask is carved by hand of seasoned sese wood and decorated with painted details that include a dark brown forehead, brown eyes and lips. The white clay face has tribal marks on each cheek painted green and yellow, and etched patterns under the eyes.

• Dimension - 15.75" H x 4.9" W x 3" D
• Weight - 1.06
• Color - Brown
• Intended for display on a tabletop or other flat surface
• Display stand included
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• West Africa

This mask is the original design of Ghana's Victor Dushie, who crafts it by hand from ofuntum wood and embossed aluminum plate. The long mask features hand painted motifs in brown, black and yellow.

From Made Wirata, this sleek sculpture captures the strength and pride of an elephant in a modern sculpture. The perky pachyderm inspires admiration.

Product Features

• Signed by the artist
• 5.5" H x 6" W x 3.1" D
• Suar wood
• Brown

Traditionally given to Ashanti women who hope to have children, this pair of fertility dolls is designed by Raphat Asigbey in Ghana. A male and a female figure are hand-carved from sese wood, given a painted finish in hues of blue, green, and black that accentuate their patterns.

Target-like circles on the face identify this ethereal winged creature as a butterfly, or perhaps a bird. Gliding on beautiful wings, the mask represents a nature spirit among the Bwa tribe of Burkina Faso. Salihu Ibrahim carves the elegant image from African sese wood.

• Dimension - 6.25" H x 27.5" W x 1.2" D
• Weight - 1.23
• Color - Multicolor
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• West Africa

Ornate designs and beautiful openwork give this elephant figurine a truly royal and exotic appearance. Hand-carved by artisan Gulam Rasool of India, the elephant is crafted out of natural soapstone. A smaller elephant is expertly carved inside of the figurine.
Natural stone - some variations in color and/or pattern are to be expected

• Color: Natural or White
• Dimension: 3.1" H x 4.5" W x 2" D

A brilliant painted wood box opens to reveal handcrafted masks. Used during the Carnival celebrations preceeding Lent, they show an astonishing array of animals, human and fantasy faces. Alejandro ChAvez displays them in a traditional diorama, known as a retablo; each figurine is modeled by hand.

• Dimension - 11" H x 8.25" W x 3.3" D
• Weight - 2
• Color - Multicolor
• Andes

Duangkamol conveys the universal emotions expressed by Thai elephants. Working in cool blue Celadon ceramic, she creates an enchanting pair of statuettes. The lovely blue pachyderms are wonderfully detailed, seeming to share in belly-shaking laughter.
Features a crackled finish

• Color: Blue
• Dimension: 3.5" H x 3.2" W x 2.4" D

Lifting his trunk, an elephant seems to laugh out loud. Elephants are an important part of Thai culture and have been symbols of both power and peace. Working in the renowned celadon tradition, Thatsanee and Ramphan craft this handsome figurine by hand and bathe it in a cool green glaze.

Product Features

• Features a crackled finish
• 5.5" H x 3.3" W x 8.5" D
• Celadon ceramic
• Green

Taking a trip through nature, a majestic elephant is the subject of this sculpture from Thailand. Amporn presents this sculpture, which is hand-carved from a single piece of natural teak wood. The elephant's trunk, ears, and teak wood are etched by hand to expertly capture the rough texture of its skin. Its tusks are made from ivory wood.

Poised to sing sweet melodies of the Andes, this beautiful zampo�a panpipe is handcrafted by Benito Tito. Its name, Laca, refers to the presence of the traditional musical instrument at festive events. Tito selects eleven reeds according to size, sands them and aligns them with precision. They are held in place with nylon monofilament and covered with synthetic fabric. A matching fabric case is included; it emulates pre-Hispanic textile design.

A skeletal figure, she stands with her hands raised in the posture of women who die in childbirth. Artisans from the Angel Cern Artisan Association sculpts the image of Coatlicue, 'She of the serpent skirt.' The Mexica earth goddess and mother of the gods, her image bears the symbol 'Eight Malinalli, or 'grass.' Her son Huitzilopochtli, the sun god and god of war, defended her from the powers of the night.

The artisans bathe the image in earth to give it the effect of a recent archaeological discovery.

Product Features

• Signed by the artist
• 6.25" H x 3.5" W x 2.8" D
• Ceramic
• Grey

This compelling mask from West Africa's Victor Dushie is hand carved from local sese wood and painted black. The round mask is finished with aluminum plate detailing, which adds an eye-catching texture to the dark surface. The name Kafui is taken from the Ewe language spoken in Ghana, and means "praise God."

Benalu wood lends its unique organic forms to this sculpture from Yudi Suardi in Bali. The artists incorporates hand carved jempinis wood hummingbirds and mushrooms with the natural benalu wood to create an unusual and beautiful sculpture.
As natural wood roots are used, please expect each sculpture to be a unique work of art.

Walking with a raised trunk, this Thai elephant is destined to bring good fortune. Amporn masterfully carves the sculpture from rain tree wood, and the removable tusks from ivorywood. Amporn's talent is to be admired in the vivid details that characterize his work.

• Material - Rain tree wood and ivorywood
• Color - Brown
• Dimension - 4.3" H x 7.75" W x 3.5" D
• Weight - 0.88

Richly veined marble adds a translucent contrast to deep rose marble and sleek black onyx. The three varied tones of natural stone unite in a colorful table game by the Sierra Family. Beautiful and unusual, it makes a wonderful gift.
The playing board is created from selected pieces of sectioned marble and onyx slabs. First they are cut with a diamond disk. At this stage, the disk is cooled with water so that the stone will not shatter. The design is then perfected with files before the pieces are polished to a glowing sheen. "For us, it is very important to give our clients the best in quality and originality, transforming stone into functional products - whether for diversion or decoration," Mireya Sierra tells us.
Stone sculpting is a traditional regional handicraft, and the Sierras are famous for the skill and the quality of their work. Because each piece is sculpted individually, there may exist slight variations in the color and grain pattern of the stone. The set includes 60 colored glass marbles.

This ceramic figurine of the rufous hummingbird looks up inquisitively, ready to be posed in your home or patio. Guatemalan artisan Mauricio Morales hand sculpts and hand paints this lovely bird with meticulous detail to capture the species' likeness. The aluminum wire legs and feet can bend to position the bird to your liking.

• Dimension - 3.3" H x 2.4" W x 3.9" D
• Weight - 0.17
• Color - Grey
• Signed by the artist
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• May be used indoors or outdoors
• Central America

Elegant and poised, two horses welcome the holiday season. Duangkamol crafts the pair by hand with classic celadon ceramic techniques. Featuring an antiqued turquoise glaze, they hang from yellow satin ribbons.

Sculpted of semiprecious gems, a beautiful bird boasts a crown of chrysocolla. Feathers of serpentine and garnet add beauty to the cheerful creature. Cesar Gonzales creates an exquisite sculpture, crafting the bright eyes from painted glass and the realistic feet from wrought iron. A black onyx beak completes the image, which perches on an aragonite trunk.

• Dimension - 3.9" H x 1.8" W x 3.5" D
• Weight - 0.57
• Color - Multicolor
• Natural stone - some variations in color and/or pattern are to be expected
• Andes

Known for his amiable nature, this elephant statuette is carved in raintree wood and presented by Thailand artisan Amporn. The gentle giant is brought to life with hand carved details that highlight the gorgeous natural wood grain. Please note the tusks may be removed for safe packing and shipping.

Rolling back on his haunches, trunk held high, a baby elephant wriggles with joy. Amporn carved the image by hand, transforming teak wood into a lifelike pachyderm, 'I want to share this little creature's happy feelings,' the Thai artisan says. The tusks are carved from ivory wood.

Product Features

• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• 6.25" H x 4.3" W x 5.5" D
• Teak wood and ivory wood
• Black

Lifting their trunks, two blue elephants trumpet their happiness. An important part of Thai culture, elephants are a symbol of Old Siam. Thatsanee and Ramphan craft the pair by hand in the tradition of celadon ceramic arts, renowned for its subtly crackled glaze.

• Dimension - 2.6" H x 1.9" W x 2.6" D
• Weight - 0.26
• Color - Blue
• Features a crackled finish
• Thailand

Two parrots converse in this sculpture from Indian artisan Ashish Mehta, hand-carved from local kadam wood in a natural color. Intricately detailed, each parrot features beautiful work inspired by traditional jali architectural motifs, revealing hollow bodies that house cute little parrots.

• Dimension - 5.5" H x 4.7" W x 1.5" D
• Weight - 0.39
• Color - Beige
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• India

Sipping from a flower made of natural loranthus wood, an elegant hummingbird is carved by hand from jempinis wood. Balinese artisan Yudi Suardi creates a nature-inspired sculpture to add to your home decor. This sculpture is detachable.

Her face shows a garden where a hummingbird hovers. Carefully sculpted of crocodile wood and painted by hand, this doll represents a Balinese beauty. Gusti Ngurah Semarajaya creates an image that reflects the wealth of art and culture in Bali. The gown is made of handloomed ikat, a cloth with threads dyed in random patterns before weaving.

Product Features

• Signed by the artist
• 21.75" H x 17.75" W x 3.2" D
• Crocodile wood and 100% cotton
• Multicolor

His eyes are closed forever, yet they seem to gaze protectively from beyond the grave. Incised with concentric circles in warm earth colors, this mask is representative of the Lubo, a Bantu speaking people from southern Congo. These are used during periods of transition, marking the death of a chief or other eminent person. It is crafted by Salihu Ibrahim.

• Dimension - 12.25" H x 11" W x 5.5" D
• Weight - 2.68
• Color - Brown
• West Africa

Designed by Indian artisan Sajad, this strikingly beautiful set of two elephant sculptures will enhance the decor of any room. Each sculpture is carved from weeping willow wood, covered in papier-mAchA, and buffed to a smooth finish. Oil paints in magnificent hues of pink and yellow cover each sculpture with a glossy, floral robe.

• Dimension - 3.9" H x 4.3" W x 2.4" D
• Weight - 0.73
• Color - Multicolor
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• India

Mother elephant and her calf hold a ball in their raised trunks in this extraordinary pair of Indian figurines. Each one is carved by hand from a single block of kadam wood with hand-held tools to create the ornate openwork known as jali. Smaller elephants are sculpted within the body in an amazing feat of artisanship. Wearing glistening beads, the lovely pachyderms are presented by Dayal J. Daryanani.

• Dimension - 3.9" H x 5" W x 2.2" D
• Weight - 0.29
• Color - Brown
• Wood grain and color can vary slightly
• Eco-Friendly: carved from natural and sustainable wood
• India

Hand-carved from naturally dried sese wood, this sculpture depicts a rectangular mask resting on a rectangular base. Ghanaian designer Rita Addo Zakour details wide eyes, alert to every movement, beneath an ornate headdress. The lovely piece receives applications of white clay and embossed aluminum. The base of the mask is also ornately adorned with embossed aluminum. The sculpture is name Ahkoma, an Akan word meaning "satisfaction."

• Dimension - 16" H x 5.25" W x 2.6" D
• Weight - 1.54
• Color - Brown
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• West Africa

Featureless, this mask represents protective spirits that can take animal form or can appear as strange beings. These spirits watch over families, clans and communities. They provide for fertility, health and prosperity as well as continuity of life. Superbly carved by Salihu Ibrahim, this mask is representative of the Gurunsi people from Burkina Faso.

• Dimension - 29.5" H x 9" W x 2" D
• Weight - 2.16
• Color - Multicolor
• West Africa

A skeletal figure, she stands with her hands raised in the posture of women who die in childbirth. Artisans from the Angel Cern Artisan Association sculpt the image of Coatlicue, 'She of the serpent skirt.' The Mexica earth goddess and mother of the gods, her image bears the symbol 'Eight Malinalli, or 'grass.' Her son Huitzilopochtli, the sun god and god of war, defended her from the powers of the night.

Product Features

• Signed by the artist
• 8.5" H x 4.3" W x 3.9" D
• Stucco on ceramic
• Beige

Diminutive though she may be, this magnificent elephant is a fine example of jali openwork, a traditional style of carving in India. The artisan hand-carves the small but mighty beast from a single piece of wood, and even carves a miniature elephant figurine within the body. Devender Garg from India presents the beautiful statuette.

• Material - Kadam wood, plastic
• Color - Beige
• Dimension - 3.1" H x 3.9" W x 2.6" D
• Weight - 1.32 lbs
• Wood grain and color can vary slightly
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly

From Made Wirata, this sleek sculpture distills the essence of the elephant in a modern sculpture. With its trunk raised in a joyous trumpet, the forest creature struts proudly down forest paths.

Product Features

• Signed by the artist
• 8.75" H x 6.5" W x 3.3" D
• Suar wood
• Brown

Angel Cer n finds inspiration in the art and beliefs of the Olmeca people to replicate the sculpture of a jaguar holding a man standing on his head. "The original sculpture is from the middle pre-classic period of 1200-400 B.C. and was found in San Lorenzo Tenochtitl n, Veracruz," explains the master ceramist. "The ancient Olmeca believed they were descendants of the union between a jaguar and a woman. The actual myth seems to have been lost in time, though many of their celebrations and artistry make reference to the jaguar, especially portraying people with feline facial characteristics including fangs. There used to be a considerable jaguar population in the same region where the Olmeca culture developed, so they regarded the feline as having some connection with their origin. They also believed it to represent both the world of th living, and the underworld," continues Cer n, who crafts the sculpture with yellow clay from the state of Oaxaca creating low and high relief accents and gives it an antiqued finish.

• Material - Ceramic
• Color - Grey
• Dimension - 7.5" H x 6.25" W x 3.1" D
• Weight - 1.58 lbs
• Signed by the artist
• Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
• Museum replica(s)

This ceramic figurine of the elegant keel-billed toucan casts its gaze inquisitively, ready to be posed in your home or patio. Guatemalan artisan Mauricio Morales hand-sculpts and hand-paints this lovely bird with meticulous detail to capture the species's likeness. The aluminum wire legs and feet can bend to position the bird to your liking.

Product Features

• Signed by the artist
• 5.5" L x 3.1" W x 2.4" D
• Ceramic, aluminum
• Multicolor

A playful hummingbird seeks out the sweet nectar of flowers in an alebrije sculpture designed to hang from the ceiling. Zeny and Reyna transform found pieces of copal wood into a delightful alebrije. These fanciful sculptures are a traditional folk art in Oaxaca, once based on twenty totems but today representing all kinds of animals. They take their name from a Calo gypsy word for 'something difficult, tangled, confusing or fantastic.'

Includes a thread for hanging.

Because each alebrije is individually created work of folk art, shapes will vary slightly. Small parts are separated for shipping to protect from breakage.

Product Features

• Warning: Choking Hazard. Small parts -- not for children under 3 years.
• 2.8" H x 3.7" W x 6.25" D
• Copal wood
• Green