I’ll admit, I’m not usually the kind of person who “curates” home décor. My living room aesthetic could generously be described as “an explosion in a toy factory.” But the Handmade.com Motherly Affection sculpture somehow managed to earn a spot that wasn’t next to the finger-paint masterpiece my kid brought home from preschool.
Hand-carved by Balinese artist Nyoman Sudiana, this piece is made from sustainable suar wood and polished until you start wondering if your reflection looks better in it than in your bathroom mirror. It captures that tender moment between a mother and child—the one that happens right before your kid learns how to sass you. The wood’s natural grain subtly works its way into the design, which is a far cry from the “generic statue” vibe you get from the discount home goods aisle.
Then there’s Dancing with Son, created by female woodcarver Sri Ekawti. This one nails the unshakable bond between mother and son—depicted here as an innocent little dance. I mean, in real life, my son’s idea of “dancing with mom” involves stepping on my feet and asking if we’re done yet, but the sculpture manages to make it look graceful, even magical. The polished finish almost makes it feel alive—though thankfully, it doesn’t demand snacks every ten minutes.
Both pieces have one thing in common: they make the rest of your furniture look like you assembled it from a box labeled “cheap and wobbly.” Once you have artwork like this, you start side-eyeing everything else in your house, wondering if it’s worthy of sharing the same space. These sculptures don’t just fill a shelf—they make that shelf look like it belongs in a home belonging to someone who “has their life together,” which is a feeling I could use.