These niches are made by hand from recycled cedar from old fences in the countryside of Southwest Louisiana. The wood is old, weathered, and has imperfections, enhancing the rustic and antique appearance. The tiles are handpainted Talaveras. The niches can stand or hang: there is a hook on the back of the niche and another hook inside that is used to secure the statue. The statues that fit in the niche are handmade by Hank Schlau and hand painted by Karen Schlau. The statues that can fit in the niches are these: Francis with lamb (S-043; shown above); Hildegard of Bingen (S-046); Lao-Tzu (S-074); St. John of the Cross (S-049); and Julian of Norwich (S-071). Being from Southwest Louisiana, the niches don’t like prolonged freezes and should be brought inside during the winter in colder climates: the tiles can be damaged by long freezes.