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  A Different Approach.   Wholesalers of Fine Nicaraguan & Peruvian Crafts

POTTERY AND OTHER CRAFTS OF NICARAGUA AND PERU


Pottery-making has been a part of the culture since pre-Columbian times. Traditionally, it was the role of women in a community to hand build utilitarian pottery pieces for storing water and use in cooking. Today several of the groups that we work with are small womens' cooperatives that have modified these designs and incorporated modern techniques to reach a larger market. In addition, with the introduction of the wheel, men have entered this field as a way to supplement their agricultural work.

Ceferino. AYACUCHO POTTERY
Ayacucho pottery has its origins in the Andean town of Ayacucho, Peru. While many of the Ayacucho artisans left the area and relocated in Lima due to the violence in their area, they retained the traditional techniques. The technique used by artisans is similar to the pre-Columbian technique used by the Wari culture. The clay is sun-dried until pliable. Complex forms are shaped using the coil method. Simple forms are created with molds. The pieces are either painted before or after the firing. The themes depict local culture and religious scenes.

We work with several artisans who do this type of pottery. One association that we work with is Ichimay Wari. About a dozen artisans who migrated to the Lima area during the violent years make up this group. They live in a suburb of Lima called Lurin.
Emiliano.
As Emilano (shown right), the current president of the cooperatives, states when he was growing up this type of pottery was not well-respected. His father used to discourage him from pottery making, telling him it was just made by people to trade for food and drink. He loved it anyway and while he studied carpentry to placate his father, he continued to perfect his pottery making skills. With time, this unique style of pottery gained recognition and today it is truely appreciated for the work of art that it is.

Atesania AACLA, an associaton in Quinua (near Ayacucho), is made up of 16 small workshops. This association was formed about 8 years ago in order to market their products outside the Ayacucho area. Like the other artisans we work with, these members have developed this art since childhood, having it passed from generation to generation.
(See our Artisan Profile page for more information on artisans of Nicaragua and Peru.)
Vladimir Norori, a potter from San Juan de Oriente in Nicaragua. SAN JUAN de ORIENTE

This small community of farmers began experimenting with the wheel several decades ago. Over the last 30 years, the pottery of this community has passed through several phases and has evolved into something quite eclectic. In the last decade many of the potter from this community have received worldwide recognition for their work. The pieces are inspired by traditional pre-Columbian designs, as well as, outside influences from the array of international potters that have participated in Potters for Peace exchanges. The potters use mineral oxides, mainly chrome, cobalt, and iron to color the vases. They fire them at low temperatures in brick kilns. Most the artisans in this village work in small family groups. Once a year San Juan de Oriente holds a pottery competition and the potters work long hours to produce a unique award-winning entry.

THE COOPERATIVE OF DUCUALE GRANDE
The women that make up this cooperative have been working together for many years. They work jointly on the pieces, often with each women taking a different phase in the process. They apply a slip and then re-fire or smoke the pieces to produce a final two-toned look.

(See our Artisan Profile page for more information on artisans of Nicaragua and Peru.)


Artisan women of Loma Panda. THE WOMEN OF LOMA PANDA     (photo right)
The setting of Loma Panda is truly amazing. The workshop of this small group of women is perched on a hilltop overlooking a river and rolling hills. These half dozen women use the tri-color clay of their surrounding area to hand build truly adorable creations such as ceramic dolls, angels and make believe creatures.

THE WOMEN OF LA NARANJA     (photo below)
women of La Naranja. The small group of women in La Naranja who produce the clay drums came together relatively recently. Several years ago they were invited to a drum- making workshop facilitated by Potters for Peace. From all those who attended the workshop, they were the only group that returned to their community and applied what they had learned. They know all too well from their lives in a poor agricultural community that nothing should be taken for granted or wasted. They use their hands, the clay from the nearby river, and the skins from the cattle of neighboring communities to create these hearty sounding drums.

(See our Artisan Profile page for more information on artisans of Nicaragua and Peru.)

ARTETROPIC
Artetropic is an association of several women's groups with over 300 women affiliated with the organization at the moment. It works in the coca zone of Cochabamba, Bolivia.

There are two groups that make these lively insects from the jippy jappa fiber. Amach, which has 30 artisans, was a formed and functioning group even before Artetropic came to this region. They are assisted by a smaller, more recently formed group in Santa Elena. The women collect the jippy jappa material along the rivers and dry and dye it. They then weave them into delightful creations.

COMUNIDAD WINAY
Comunidad Winay is a cooperatively owned ceramic workshop in the Cochabamba region of Bolivia. They began in the late 1980's and are comprised of 21 women and 1 man. Their mission is to provide stable employment to women in the community and to provide education for their children. They have a unique daycare that provides health care, education and meals for nearly 50 children. The members create delightful ceramic farm animals (in the Rustic Animal section, see pages 1 through 3). Each one is delicately hand-formed and decorated.

(See our Artisan Profile page for more information on artisans of Nicaragua and Peru.)

THE POTTERY OF CHULUCANAS, PERU
The town of Chulucanas is located in northwest Peru, a long dusty ride from Lima. It is in that area that pre-Columbian vessels with a negative smoke resist technique were found in burial sites of the Vicus tribe. Unfortunately this technique had been lost over the centuries, and at the time of the findings the potters in the area were making only terra cotta vessels. Example of Chulucanas pottery.

In the late 1960's several local potters, with the help of a few interested supporters in the area, founded a group called Sanoc Camayoc, or Masters of Clay. The goal of this group was to rediscover the pre-Columbian techniques that had been used by their ancestors in the area. Through many trials and errors they discovered the technique used to create the black on white and white on black patterns.

It is through this group's revival of the traditional techniques that Chulucanas pottery has achieved worldwide recognition. Today there are over 700 workshops in this community.

The form of each vase is built by hand-turning and using a wooden paddle and smooth stone, to thin and smooth the sides of the vessel. The vases are then painted with a base coat of clay and mineral oxides, burnished and fired. At this time the vases are repainted in the areas that the base color is to be retained. The vases are smoked twice with smoldering mango leaves. Any area that did not receive the second engobe application absorbs the smoke and turns a dark rich brown. The engobe is then washed off, revealing the lighter color.

THE COOPERATIVE OF CINCO PINOS     (photo right)
This cooperative is nestled among stands of pine trees in the northern mountains of Nicaragua. The women use this natural resource to weave amazing pine needle baskets. This cooperative was formed several years ago with the help of a European organization and continues to grow by inviting other women of the community to join in its success.

THE SOAPSTONE OF SAN JUAN DE LIMAY
San Juan de Limay is located in the northern mountains of Nicaragua. They are closely located to two soapstone quarries. Most of the artisans are male but there is one small women's cooperative learning the trade. They carve the soft stone with hand tools such as knives and chisels.

Cusco Pottery.

THE POTTERY OF CUSCO, PERU
The pottery of Cusco, Peru is inspired by the Incan civilization.


(See our Artisan Profile page for more information on artisans of Nicaragua and Peru.)


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