OUR COLLECTION — LATIN AMERICA — GUATEMALA 501. CARVED HOLY FAMILY
This Holy Family was hand-carved from cedar wood by Antonio Ravinal in Guatemala. He carved his name on the bottom of Joseph’s pedestal. Antonio also carved “Guatemala” on the front of Joseph’s pedestal. The designs carved on the figures are done in a style called chip carving. The set was a gift from a friend who purchased it in Guatemala City. The kneeling Joseph figure measures 4.5 inches tall (without his tall staff).
Mary wears a hat typical of some of the 27 indigenous Mayan groups in Guatemala. Her blouse is a Guipiles, which the Mayan women make on a loom that is tied around their waists and then tied to a tree. The women embellish these blouses by hand with flowers or other images. The women also wear a traditional skirt, which is a double layer of material that they wind around themselves and tie with a very long belt—often beautifully loomed and embroidered. They just stick the end of the belt into their waistline and it stays on fine.
Mary wears a hat typical of some of the 27 indigenous Mayan groups in Guatemala. Her blouse is a Guipiles, which the Mayan women make on a loom that is tied around their waists and then tied to a tree. The women embellish these blouses by hand with flowers or other images. The women also wear a traditional skirt, which is a double layer of material that they wind around themselves and tie with a very long belt—often beautifully loomed and embroidered. They just stick the end of the belt into their waistline and it stays on fine.