Ceramic candelabra · Michoacán · Midnight blue

A striking handcrafted candelabra in glossy midnight blue glaze, holding three candles and featuring ornate spherical details with intricate peak appliqué. Inspired by elote, the sacred corn of the Mayans, this bold statement piece celebrates traditional Purépecha craftsmanship with dramatic folk art flair. The architectural form rises from a sturdy pedestal base, with each element wrapped in textured bands that create an ever-changing play of light and shadow.

The Craft. These candleholders are masterfully made using the pastillaje and vidriado techniques, where the skilled artisan moulds hundreds of small pieces of clay with the fingertips and applies them one by one. The painstaking process can take weeks to complete, as each individual clay element must be hand-formed and carefully attached before high-temperature firing creates the glass-like appearance. The result is a tactile surface that transforms candlelight into a ceremonial experience, with the glossy glaze amplifying every ridge and curve.

The Heritage. The richness of local crafts in the Purépecha-inhabited area of southwestern Mexico, now known as Michoacán, has been a source of pride since pre-Hispanic times, encouraging a way of living and perpetuating indigenous culture. New techniques such as glazing and high-firing kilns were introduced by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century, helping indigenous communities modernise their craft while maintaining ancestral knowledge. The corn motif honours the deep spiritual significance of this sacred plant in Mesoamerican culture.

The Maker. A master artisan of Purépecha descent, Pedro Hernández Carlos lives and works in the famous pottery town of San José de Gracia in Michoacán. Set on perpetuating his family traditions and values, Pedro creates incessantly in his workshop together with his wife Isabel, taking inspiration from the natural world surrounding him. He is the recipient of numerous prizes and in 2008, he co-founded Tsitski Museo Comunitario, located at his home.