NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Meticulously painted by hand, this beautiful plate pays tribute to Pablo Picasso. Geometric motifs are cryptic on smooth ceramic. By Raul Fuenzalida, the decorative piece is displayed on a wrought iron stand. As this is a hand-crafted item, size and color may vary slightly. Artisan Info: "I was born in Valparaiso, Chile. From the time I was in primary school, I liked art very much so I took painting classes from a teacher who had won the Premio Nacional de Pintura in Chile. I graduated from the Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso with a degree in architecture and then went on to study fine art. I won a regional award for my murals. "In 1979, I moved to Mexico. I opened a jewelry workshop where my designs were at the vanguard in my field. I participated in a number of statewide events. Destiny and my move to Mexico led to my good fortune in meeting Patricia, my wife. I moved to her hometown and began to design for artisan workshops. Eventually I had created a line of decorative items and opened my own workshop with the help of my wife and, today with the help of our children. Together, we design pieces that are distinct from those you see elsewhere. "Here in Mexico, I've had the opportunity to participate in several national events. I received the prize for design development

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Strokes of subdued colors embellish this charming decorative plate by Francisco Guerreros. The piece portrays an Andean pueblo through Guerreros' mastered combination of color, shade and form. It makes an inspiring addition to any room. Artisan Info: "My name is Francisco Guerreros Coronado. I was born in 1961, and now am a single father to a beautiful girl named Mari Luz. I started working when I was 19 years old. At that time, I helped my oldest brother out by painting pictures (he's a painter). Nowadays, I consider myself a genuine artist. I learned to paint through my brother, but I've now expanded my artwork beyond just painting: I have been working with all types of ceramics as well. The process of working with ceramic is very intricate and complex, but I truly enjoy it. I also enjoy creating new designs, so that my paintings and ceramics will always depict something novel. It has been 20 years since I have started producing art, and now I hope that it can be seen and sold throughout the world." To create his wonderful ceramics, the artist first shapes the piece and smoothes it with sandpaper. Then it is soaked in water to remove any bubbles that may burst under the picture once it is painted. It is dried, then painted with a white base, dried again, and sanded once more.

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Radiating from a geometric center, feathers form a shield. Raul Fuenzalida emulates Native American art, hand-painted on a ceramic plate. The beautiful piece is displayed on a wrought iron stand. As this is a hand-crafted item, size and color may vary slightly. Artisan Info: "I was born in Valparaiso, Chile. From the time I was in primary school, I liked art very much so I took painting classes from a teacher who had won the Premio Nacional de Pintura in Chile. I graduated from the Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso with a degree in architecture and then went on to study fine art. I won a regional award for my murals. "In 1979, I moved to Mexico. I opened a jewelry workshop where my designs were at the vanguard in my field. I participated in a number of statewide events. Destiny and my move to Mexico led to my good fortune in meeting Patricia, my wife. I moved to her hometown and began to design for artisan workshops. Eventually I had created a line of decorative items and opened my own workshop with the help of my wife and, today with the help of our children. Together, we design pieces that are distinct from those you see elsewhere. "Here in Mexico, I've had the opportunity to participate in several national events. I received the prize for design development and innovation

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Alluring colors embellish this decorative plate by Francisco Guerrero Arotinco. Made from clay fired at high temperatures and then expertly painted in carefully-orchestrated color, shade and shape create a riveting piece that cheerfully enhances any living room. Artisan Info: "My name is Francisco Guerreros Coronado. I was born in 1961, and now am a single father to a beautiful girl named Mari Luz. I started working when I was 19 years old. At that time, I helped my oldest brother out by painting pictures (he's a painter). Nowadays, I consider myself a genuine artist. I learned to paint through my brother, but I've now expanded my artwork beyond just painting: I have been working with all types of ceramics as well. The process of working with ceramic is very intricate and complex, but I truly enjoy it. I also enjoy creating new designs, so that my paintings and ceramics will always depict something novel. It has been 20 years since I have started producing art, and now I hope that it can be seen and sold throughout the world." To create his wonderful ceramics, the artist first shapes the piece and smoothes it with sandpaper. Then it is soaked in water to remove any bubbles that may burst under the picture once it is painted. It is dried, then painted with a white base, dried

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Francisco Guerreros crafts another eye-engaging piece with this bright depiction of Andean women among traditional vessel containers. Skillfully hand painted with soothing colors, this ceramic plate tastefully enhances any space in the home. Artisan Info: "My name is Francisco Guerreros Coronado. I was born in 1961, and now am a single father to a beautiful girl named Mari Luz. I started working when I was 19 years old. At that time, I helped my oldest brother out by painting pictures (he's a painter). Nowadays, I consider myself a genuine artist. I learned to paint through my brother, but I've now expanded my artwork beyond just painting: I have been working with all types of ceramics as well. The process of working with ceramic is very intricate and complex, but I truly enjoy it. I also enjoy creating new designs, so that my paintings and ceramics will always depict something novel. It has been 20 years since I have started producing art, and now I hope that it can be seen and sold throughout the world." To create his wonderful ceramics, the artist first shapes the piece and smoothes it with sandpaper. Then it is soaked in water to remove any bubbles that may burst under the picture once it is painted. It is dried, then painted with a white base, dried again, and sanded once

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Tocapu images in warm colors descend in dignified diagonals, opening a passageway to the past. These geometric forms are believed to have been an ancient ideographic form of writing. Reserved for the tunics of the elite, they figured in Andean textiles. The Paucar Family faithfully recreates the abstract figures on a pair of beautiful ceramic plates. Artisan Info: Percy Paucar is a ceramicist who loves his art and tradition. He is a member of the Paucar family of potters, elaborating exquisite pieces replete with ancestral cultural designs. "From childhood, my siblings and I learned our family's unique technique of working with ceramics from our parents and grandparents. That's how I began enjoying this art and I feel very satisfied upon completing a piece, that's why I devote all my time to pottery. To elaborate the ceramics we ourselves prepare the clay; we use the potter's wheel to mold it and decorate it with paints. Our designs are inspired by figures from our ancient cultures like the Huari, and also we create original designs. Our art is expressed in decorative ceramics fired in ovens at temperatures of 150 degrees and practical glass houseware ceramics fired at approximately 200 degrees. "We work with much dedication and we are always trying to perfect our art. We have

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Known for their fearlessness in battle, Chimu warriors made possible the expansion of their territory. These ancient fighting men were feared by all who faced them. The Paucar Family faithfully recreates the abstract figures on this matched pair of ceramic plates. Artisan Info: Percy Paucar is a ceramicist who loves his art and tradition. He is a member of the Paucar family of potters, elaborating exquisite pieces replete with ancestral cultural designs. "From childhood, my siblings and I learned our family's unique technique of working with ceramics from our parents and grandparents. That's how I began enjoying this art and I feel very satisfied upon completing a piece, that's why I devote all my time to pottery. To elaborate the ceramics we ourselves prepare the clay; we use the potter's wheel to mold it and decorate it with paints. Our designs are inspired by figures from our ancient cultures like the Huari, and also we create original designs. Our art is expressed in decorative ceramics fired in ovens at temperatures of 150 degrees and practical glass houseware ceramics fired at approximately 200 degrees. "We work with much dedication and we are always trying to perfect our art. We have participated in local fairs and received honorary mentions. Through Novica we are sure

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Birds silhouetted against a golden sun honor Chancay artistry with aesthetic grandeur. Comprising of two plates, this decorative set evidences Victoria Garcia's admiration for the Chancay (1100-1430 A.D.), renowned for their ceramic art. Vibrant with the spirit of Peru's past, this set makes an original decorative accent. Artisan Info: The ceramic art of Victoria Garcia, delicate in its elaboration and genuinely representative of Peru, possesses pre-Hispanic roots and a deceptive simplicity. Her dexterity as a loving potter exalts the earth, transforming it into noble clay works, finding always space for beauty. Jars, plates, masks and even utilitarian pieces of first rate quality emerge from her kiln in a creative song celebrating life. Her miraculous ceramic work has no voice but rather a reverential silence for its ancestral past, to the origins of water and earth - element and nourishment of her work. "I'm a self-taught ceramic artist - most of my learning I obtained in my workshop by the light of experimentation and reflexion. Nonetheless I did take courses in graphic design and ceramic art. I describe my work as contemporary ceramics of pre-Hispanic expression. I've been devoted to this labor for twelve years due to the artistic pleasure and by the possibility to express

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Conjuring positive and negative space, Ruben Adanaque creates dramatic images in charcoal and ivory. These extraordinary decorative plates are hand-crafted with millennial techniques. Adanaque achieves the colors by exposing the clay to smoke. Ceramics such as this are entirely unique. Occasionally they may show slight variations of color or asymmetrical brushstrokes, but this only confirms their originality and authenticity. Artisan Info: "Hi, my name is Ruben Adanaque Inga, and I was born on April 10, 1963 in Piura. From time immemorial, this region has been the cradle of significant pre-Inca cultures, such as Vicus, Tallan, and Moche among others, which bequeathed us a deep ceramist tradition. "I started working as a potter at 17 in the workshop of the Paz Arizmendi brothers, from whom I learned the craft, starting as a burner. Then, I learned to create birds and fruits on my own. Two years later, I started making the traditional Chulucanas ceramics. But my wish was to create faces and hands, thus I came to study with master craftsman Max Inga. "In general, my development as a ceramist evolves from practice, as for most artisans from my land. My works are characterized by globular and symmetrical shapes. I've adopted the pre-Columbian technique of the Vicus culture from

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. The iconography of the Inca people survives the passing of time and inspires the Paucar Family in the creation of these decorative plates. Crafted by hand of ceramic, the hand-painted motifs tell of the huaca, a sacred place used for storing sculptures and other artistic representations. Artisan Info: Percy Paucar is a ceramicist who loves his art and tradition. He is a member of the Paucar family of potters, elaborating exquisite pieces replete with ancestral cultural designs. "From childhood, my siblings and I learned our family's unique technique of working with ceramics from our parents and grandparents. That's how I began enjoying this art and I feel very satisfied upon completing a piece, that's why I devote all my time to pottery. To elaborate the ceramics we ourselves prepare the clay; we use the potter's wheel to mold it and decorate it with paints. Our designs are inspired by figures from our ancient cultures like the Huari, and also we create original designs. Our art is expressed in decorative ceramics fired in ovens at temperatures of 150 degrees and practical glass houseware ceramics fired at approximately 200 degrees. "We work with much dedication and we are always trying to perfect our art. We have participated in local fairs and received honorary mentions.