Handmade Peruvian Ayacucho Retablo
Handmade Peruvian Ayacucho Retablo
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The From The Andes Priority Promise.
Eligible contiguous U.S. orders of $75+ receive complimentary USPS Priority Mail shipping.
Hand-painted wood. Two-tier narrative. Authentic Peruvian heritage.
This is not a mass-produced resin ornament. This is a traditional Retablo Ayacuchano, a portable altar box born from the Spanish colonial period and adapted by indigenous artisans in the Peruvian Andes. It is a self-contained world, carved and painted by hand, that carries the weight of history in a compact footprint.
The Experience
When closed, it presents as a vibrant, floral-painted artifact. When opened, it commands the space.
- The Narrative: A classic two-tier composition. The upper celestial level features the Nativity; the lower terrestrial level depicts the harvest and village life. It captures the duality of Andean spirituality.
- The Craft: Hundreds of distinct brushstrokes cover the exterior doors. Inside, each potato-flour-and-gypsum figure is molded and painted individually.
- The Character: This is a vintage piece. The surface wear, slight paint crazing, and artisan irregularities are not defects—they are proof of age and human hands.
Technical Specifications
- Origin: Ayacucho, Peru
- Style: Traditional Two-Tier Retablo
- Dimensions: 6.5" H x 3.75" W (closed) x 2" D
- Material: Polychrome wood case, gypsum/potato-flour figures
- Condition: Vintage. Displays honest age-related wear and patina.
Deployment
Where to place it: This piece is dense with color. It needs negative space.
- The Shelf: Style it open on a floating shelf between neutral book stacks.
- The Vignette: Pair it with beeswax candles on a mantle for a warm, secular or spiritual focal point.
- The Gift: A culturally significant alternative to disposable holiday decor for the collector in your life.
Purchase Assurance
Authenticity: Sourced directly from Peruvian trade routes. This is the real article.
Top FAQs Answered 🌟 frequently asked questions
Will I receive the exact item shown?
If a product is listed as one-of-one, vintage, a unique specimen, or the exact piece photographed, that is the piece you will receive. Repeatable apparel and multi-unit products may use representative photography and will match the purchased style, size, color, and listed specifications.
Are all your items handmade?
No. Many pieces are handmade, hand-knit, handwoven, carved, assembled, or produced in small quantities. Others are commercially produced. We state the material, construction, maker, origin, and technique on the individual product page when those facts are known.
Do you restock sold-out items?
Sometimes. Core apparel and repeatable merchandise may return when available. One-of-one, vintage, limited, and unusually sourced pieces often do not. If inventory says one, there may really be only one.
What determines the price of a piece?
We consider material, fiber content where applicable, construction, finishing, origin, workmanship, production quantity, condition, and the finished piece itself. Price makes sense only after you know what you are comparing.
What is your return policy?
All products may be returned within 30 calendar days after delivery. Merchandise must be unused, unworn, and in original condition. Contact info@fromtheandes.com to request a return. Approved U.S. returns include a prepaid return label paid by From The Andes. Eligible returns may receive a refund of the merchandise price, an exchange, or store credit, with no restocking fee. Approved refunds are initiated within 3 business days after inspection, and From The Andes pays outbound shipping on approved exchanges.
Returns require prior authorization and must meet the condition requirements in our Refund Policy.
Where does my order ship from, and how quickly?
Orders ship from Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, and typically leave within 1 business day. Orders placed after 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time typically ship the following business day. Orders placed on weekends or recognized holidays typically ship the next business day. Handling time is separate from carrier transit time. We use USPS or UPS and provide tracking. USPS currently publishes a 2–3 business day service objective for Priority Mail after USPS accepts the shipment; Priority Mail delivery is not guaranteed.
Where do you ship?
We ship to eligible addresses within the United States and supported U.S. territories, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, supported U.S. territories and possessions, and eligible APO, FPO, and DPO addresses. Orders of $75 or more shipping to an eligible address in the contiguous United States receive complimentary USPS Priority Mail shipping. Orders of $75 or more shipping to an eligible address in the contiguous United States receive complimentary USPS Priority Mail shipping. Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and eligible APO, FPO, and DPO addresses are charged the available USPS rate shown at checkout.