For a cool addition to your tree, these pigs are created by Mexican artisan Gorky Gonzalez. He crafts each ornament from ceramic, painted by hand with blue, green, and other colorful designs in the traditional style of Maiolica handicrafts. Each ornament is marked with the artisan's signature, as well as the letters "AT" for Alfarería Tradicional (Traditional Pottery).
Made in Mexico
Ceramic
Signed by the artist
Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
In 1992, Mexico's then president awarded Gorky Gonzalez with the National Award of Sciences and Art. "My main interest was always the rescue of traditional Majolica pottery."
Latest Update"I learned at the hands of my father, who was also named Gorky. It's curious how parents ask you to carry...Latest Update
"I learned at the hands of my father, who was also named Gorky. It's curious how parents ask you to carry on the family legacy, down to their own names. But this is a legacy that greatly impassions me.
"I learned how to create distinct colorations in ceramic in 1994, certain that I could make designs that were more original and distinguish us as a family. From the beginning, this has been our family mission and our trademark.
"Over the years, we have worked hand in hand with you to sell our work internationally in a way that is fixed and secure. This has given us the opportunity to share this family art tradition with people around the world.
"We've been able to give work to more people and create a beautiful atmosphere of trust and family in our workshop. It wasn't always like this. When you work with artists and artisans, inspiration governs each of your activities. When it comes to quality assurance, developing a process that could be repeated on a daily basis was challenging. For us, quality is supremely important.
"We have been able to increase our sales, which has allowed us to create more models for the ceramic designs that we use on a daily basis. Color is the principal focus. We create works that are beautiful and filled with color.
"We feel very happy and blessed to have the opportunity to show our work to everyone. With all our hearts, we want to continue being a part of this project that has inspired us so much and made us believe in ourselves and in the legacy that we want to share. We have only one direction — forward."
Original Artisan Story
Among his many, many awards, Gorky Gonzalez received the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes in the area of Popular Arts and Traditions, from the hands of Mexico's president in 1992. "I was born in Morelia on September 27, 1939. My father was the sculptor Rodolfo González, with whom I worked and studied sculpture, metal casting and the lost wax process.
"In 1962, at the age of 23, I worked in the School of Arts and also the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende. There, I set up a metal casting workshop for sculpture and it was used by both students and teachers. Later on, I founded a small ceramics workshop where I reproduced Jean Byron's designs in terracotta.
"However, my main interest was always the rescue of traditional Majolica pottery. I studied ceramics in Guanajuato, and this certainly let me see the need to rescue this lost craft, so representative of the region. It was through this interest that I met Hisato Murayama, a very well-educated young Japanese man who was here studying Spanish, philosophy and Mexican history. He had a deep knowledge of ceramic techniques and lent me a number of books on Japanese art. He encouraged me to continue my studies in his country, and I received a two-year scholarship to study in Japan. While there, I not only learned new ceramic techniques, but I also met Toshiko, the woman who became my wife.
"I first studied in Tokyo with the master Tsuji Seimei who he taught me the shigaraki technique. Then I moved to Bizen where I studied with Kei Fijiwara, who is considered a living national treasure. With him, I learned the technique known as bizen yaki. My last teachers were Kato Kobe and Kioske Fujiwara, who taught me the ten-Mocu, karatzu and Shino techniques. All of these are very ancient techniques, which require special effort and attention in the elaboration of ceramics.
"From that time on, I dedicated myself to the rescue and preservation of the Majolica technique in Mexico, maintaining the original designs used during the colonial period. This is why my workshop has become the most important one dedicated to traditional Majolica in Mexico."
Gorky González has exhibited his work throughout Mexico as well as in the U.S., including New York (1965, 1986, 2002), the University of North Dakota (1985), San Antonio (1991), Atlanta (1995), New Orleans (2000), San Francisco (2003), and in Montreal, Canada (1968). His work has appeared in European venues such as Madrid (1979), Paris (1990, 1999), Savona (1990), Frankfurt (1991), Cologne (1996), and in Cairo, Egypt (1991). His Latin American expositions include San Jose (Costa Rica, 1989), Brasilia (1992), Montevideo (1993) and Lima (1993). He has also returned to Japan, exhibiting his work in Tokyo (1967, 1997) and Okayama (1968).
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
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This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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UNICEF Market offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
UNICEF Market's artisan-direct prices are made possible through our partnership with NOVICA, a leading fair trade organization that works directly with artisans in remote regions around the world in many of the same communities where UNICEF has missions. NOVICA’s ten global Artisan Empowerment Hubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America provide interest-free microcredit loans to artisans and help them bring their handmade creations directly to you.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
UNICEF Market supports children by helping generate funds for UNICEF's programs dedicated to improving children's lives worldwide. These initiatives provide essential resources such as safe water, nutrition, education, health care, and emergency relief to children in need. Learn more here: UNICEF USA.
WIN # 3 Artisans Thrive!
UNICEF Market empowers artisans in emerging nations by offering a fair trade platform to sell their handcrafted goods, expanding their market reach and increasing their income. This support helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of artisans and their family members across the globe.
