Corn Merchant

The Corn Merchant was generously gifted to the garden's collection after a lifetime of travel and cherished memories. The hand-carved wooden sculpture was purchased in Ecuador in 1978 by Colonel and Mrs. Al Raia while on a world cruise. They often laughed that its impressive size meant it had to remain in their stateroom for the rest of the voyage. Carved to depict a traditional corn merchant, the figure represents the farmers who journeyed from the surrounding mountains to sell their harvests in local markets. Today, it serves as both a work of folk art and a reminder of the rich cultural traditions and stories that accompany objects as they travel across the world.

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