OWP
Holiday Ornament- Owl with Santa Hat in Peruvian Fabric-Pyro-Engraved Gourd -Fair Trade
Holiday Ornament- Owl with Santa Hat in Peruvian Fabric-Pyro-Engraved Gourd -Fair Trade
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These owl gourd ornaments were hand-carved and given life by an artisan in Huancayo, Peru. Each gourd was skinned, cleaned, and sundried before its surface was etched and burnt with the intricate designs that adorn its surface. They make a Hoot of an ornament to sit on the shelf, a desk, or as a decoration for the home or office, or as a gift for owl lovers.
- Measures 3" high x 3" diameter at the base
Gourds are a natural and uniquely shaped vegetable, similar to a pumpkin or a squash. As such, designs, shapes, and dimensions will vary slightly.
Handmade in Peru and Fair Trade imported
Peruvian artisans have practiced the art of gourd-carving for more than 4,500 years, transforming a simple squash into intricately designed bowls, boxes, windchimes, birdhouses, purses, vases, and other bits of home decor. The twin villages of Cochas Grande and Cochas Chico, where our artisans Raquel and Esperanza live, work, and run gourd-carving workshops to create local jobs, are the center of this ancient art.
Over the centuries, artisans have found unique ways to craft gourd decor, including scratching, fine-line hatching, pyro-engraving, and carving. Naturally, the details and designs have changed, but contemporary artisans remain inspired by Peru's rich traditions.
To learn more about the talented artists who hand-craft these eco-friendly items, and the techniques they use, click About The Artisans.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Chichicastenango, Guatemala, has become one of the most important heritage centers in Guatemala during the past 10 years, due to its predominant indigenous Maya Quiche population and their traditional textile products. Yet, despite increased tourism and a renewed interest in traditional Mayan crafts, work opportunities remain few for the indigenous population, many of whom are uneducated and otherwise unemployable.
Enter De Colores Art, a local business that levels the playing field for villagers by offering free training to anyone who demonstrates the initiative to learn a trade. The company employs 30 women and 18 men to knit and embroider textile products, with the option of working at home using materials provided by the company. De Colores recognizes the culture of its Mayan employees, and as such allows flexible hours and gives time off for sowing and harvest days.
De Colores also invests in community education projects by funding two local schools in the neighboring towns of Chujupen y Pachoj, and by providing scholarships to qualifying students.
In addition to stimulating the local economy by creating new jobs, De Colores makes a conscious effort to use recycled materials whenever possible. The reason for this is twofold: to preserve Mayan culture, as recycled textiles showcase traditional knitting patterns that aren’t often seen in newer textiles, and to reduce scraps and waste.
Communities collaborate in the production process, as men work on the biggest textiles and women do the embroidery, crochet and macramé seen in smaller pieces. In some cases, in order to be competitive, sewing machines are used to assemble the finished product, although all the components are handmade and hand embroidered from cotton, wool and/or silk.
