In the pine-forested highlands of Chiapas, the Tzeltal Maya community of Amatenango del Valle is world-renowned for its ancient, open-air pottery tradition—a legacy passed down through generations of women potters. Standing at the forefront of this regional art form is Elena Bautista Pérez, recognized as one of the most gifted sculptors in Chiapas. Learning the craft alongside her mother as part of a celebrated family of master potters, Elena carries forward a deeply rooted lineage of hand-built terracotta art.   

Unlike wheel-thrown ceramics, Elena’s process relies on ancestral coil-building and hand-sculpting techniques without the use of molds or electric kilns. Using natural local clays and mineral slips, she brings extraordinary life, volume, and graphic elegance to iconic regional motifs—most notably her highly sought-after jaguar pots (jaguares) and animal vessels, which symbolize power, protection, and spiritual connection in Mayan folklore. Each piece is hand-burnished using smooth river stones to achieve a soft, natural sheen before being pit-fired outdoors in wood fires.   

Because Elena rarely leaves her village to showcase her work outside of select artisan fairs, her sculptures represent an exceptionally rare and exclusive addition to Eterna Home. Her pieces bridge sacred highland traditions with high-end editorial design, offering collectors a truly authentic piece of living Chiapanecan heritage.