Kokeshi are carved wooden dolls known for their slender bodies, round heads, and lack of limbs. They first became popular in northern Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868), when they were sold as souvenirs to visitors of hot springs in the area. Traditional kokeshi dolls […]
Spirit money, also known as ghost money, is a form of joss paper, an offering used in traditional Chinese ancestor worship. The burning of spirit money is the last ritual performed by a family member during a traditional funeral ceremony to ensure a favorable outcome […]
This rare Ethiopian Coptic icon features images of important saints carved into stone. Icons like this one, also known as prayer boxes, are used for devotional purposes, often as offerings on personal altars. Many Coptic Christians believe that the icons are filled with the spiritual […]
Papel picado is a traditional Mexican folk art of colorful tissue paper cut with intricate designs. Artists string the individual papers to form banners that are used for a number of holidays and festivals. For the Day of the Dead, banners with skeleton themes, like this […]
This small carving, known as a fetish, came from the native people of Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico. The bear is a depiction of a Zuni animal god, which, in fetish form, holds the spirit of the animal. Click the link to learn more.