OUR COLLECTION — LATIN AMERICA — GUATEMALA 61. CYPRESS WOOD NATIVITY
This is a Mayan made, hand-carved Guatemalan cypress wood Nativity set. The set includes: Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, a cow, a donkey a sheep, two shepherds (one holding a sheep), and three wise men with gifts in hand. The tallest figures measure 5 inches tall.
There is a village high in the Sierra Madre mountains of Guatemala where a family of Mayan Indians carve these beautiful Nativity sets. Once a year they hire a truck to carry their goods to the market in the big city where they sell them all in one day to a handful of vendors who sell them to us and to other Guatemalans for Christmas.
The sellers are a husband and wife team: Jeff is American and Tatiana was born and raised in Guatemala City. They write:
“All our products are made by Mayan Indian Guatemalans. We met the families who make most of our items when we were traveling around the Guatemala countryside on our honeymoon many years ago. We decided that we would buy some items from these families just because they needed the money. We have worked hard to find markets for the items and finally decided to stick with eBay.
“We are currently working with 5 hard working families who are making more and more beautiful items for us to sell. We purchase up to 6 months wages in product from them each time we visit Guatemala. They have come to trust us and they anticipate our coming with excitement and eagerness. We have seen changes in their attitudes, business practice and confidence over the last couple of years, their children are in school and their lives are improving in little ways. This is exciting to us, because we feel we are helping them to rise out their 3rd world hopelessness. They are not dependant on us, and the success with us emboldens them to succeed in other ventures.
“We want them to know that they are capable, valuable and able to produce art like no other in the world. They have the resources and the ability, just very little education and that has kept them trapped in poverty till now.
“Guatemala is a developing nation, and the economic situation is rarely good, especially for the Mayan Indian artisans trying to support their families honestly through their dedication and hard work. Your purchase will help us provide them with year-round work and will help keep this wonderful art-form alive.”
There is a village high in the Sierra Madre mountains of Guatemala where a family of Mayan Indians carve these beautiful Nativity sets. Once a year they hire a truck to carry their goods to the market in the big city where they sell them all in one day to a handful of vendors who sell them to us and to other Guatemalans for Christmas.
The sellers are a husband and wife team: Jeff is American and Tatiana was born and raised in Guatemala City. They write:
“All our products are made by Mayan Indian Guatemalans. We met the families who make most of our items when we were traveling around the Guatemala countryside on our honeymoon many years ago. We decided that we would buy some items from these families just because they needed the money. We have worked hard to find markets for the items and finally decided to stick with eBay.
“We are currently working with 5 hard working families who are making more and more beautiful items for us to sell. We purchase up to 6 months wages in product from them each time we visit Guatemala. They have come to trust us and they anticipate our coming with excitement and eagerness. We have seen changes in their attitudes, business practice and confidence over the last couple of years, their children are in school and their lives are improving in little ways. This is exciting to us, because we feel we are helping them to rise out their 3rd world hopelessness. They are not dependant on us, and the success with us emboldens them to succeed in other ventures.
“We want them to know that they are capable, valuable and able to produce art like no other in the world. They have the resources and the ability, just very little education and that has kept them trapped in poverty till now.
“Guatemala is a developing nation, and the economic situation is rarely good, especially for the Mayan Indian artisans trying to support their families honestly through their dedication and hard work. Your purchase will help us provide them with year-round work and will help keep this wonderful art-form alive.”