The Ortiz Family in Peru creates this beautiful tray, inspired by the mandalas commonly associated with eastern religions. They work in the time-honored art of reverse-painted glass, whereby motifs are painted on the underside of a glass pane. The glass is set in a wooden frame with a golden finish.

Product Features: 

• Dimension: 2.6" H x 15.75" Diam.
• Weight: 3.16
• Color: Gold Tone
• Material: MDF, glass
• Country of Origin: Peru
• Material: MDF, glass
• Dimensions: 2.6" H x 15.75" Diam.
• Made in Peru

Story Behind the art:
When you express your deepest feelings through the art you love, the hands that create each detail are blessed and transform each design into works of art. This is true of Peru's Ortiz Family.

When they least expected it, where they never imagined it, life brought Betsy and Arturo together. As artisans, the two complement each other's abilities and skills, and they formed a beautiful family.

Arturo shares his story. I was born in Islay, on the coast of Arequipa, the fifth of six children. I'll never forget the good times we spent playing on the beach and in the countryside, in the fields where we enjoyed the freedom of being children. How we enjoyed playing soccer, dinners with a large and loving family! This was my life until I was 11. Then my parents separated and it was so hard. I couldn't accept the fact that what I believed to be a beautiful relationship was over. In a way, it also meant the separation from my brothers, as some of them decided to move to Lima while others stayed in the village. Shortly afterward, my father met someone else and formed a family with her.

I went to Lima with my sister. I had to finish junior high and it was important to continue our schooling. We stayed with relatives on my father's side. Soon after, we moved into a small house we rented and our mother came to live with us.

I enrolled in school and that's where I met Betsy. We hit it off immediately and became inseparable friends. I fell in love with her — she was 12 and I was 14.

Betsy was always attracted to art and loved drawing and painting. Her grandfather was very good at art and worked in reverse painted glass.

This technique was brought to Peru in the 15th century in the form of Spanish mirrors and ornamental frames used in churches, convents and colonial mansions. Little by little, the art spread and took on a Peruvian style. Betsy and her family worked in this technique to create unique and beautiful designs. She always had art in her blood and, when I met her, she seemed to shine with a light all her own.

When I finished school, Betsy suggested I work in her father's carpentry shop. I made some tips, which gave me spending money, and I was able to help with some of the processes. I never thought I'd end up working in reverse painted glass. It wasn't my main occupation. I studied public administration and had a government job where I worked full time for 11 years.

The handmade touch of artisan skill creates variations in color, size and design. If buying two of the same item, slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen.

Imported