OWP

Hand-Carved Gourd-Holiday Ornament- Santa Claus in Sleigh with Reindeer-Peru

$17.95 USD

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Color Natural Black

This cute hand-made gourd with the white-bearded Santa sitting in a sleigh with his reindeer on the other side pulling it through the sky is available in both Natural and Black.

Gourd Carving is a traditional craft of the high Andean Mountains of Peru. Each gourd is skinned, cleaned, and sun-dried before artisans etch and burn the intricate designs that adorn its surface. Gourds are also a natural and uniquely shaped vegetable, similar to a pumpkin or a squash. As such, designs, shapes, and dimensions will vary slightly.

Each measures approximately 2-1/2” high x 2-1/4” diameter

Handmade, carved, and etched by artisans 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 tradition.

Click "About the Artisans" to learn more about the talented artists who create these eco-friendly, sustainably sourced holiday decorations.

About the Artisans

Aptec Peru is an artisan collective located near Lima, Peru. The organization is a community of 16 family workshops that employs about 140 individuals from low-income areas. The extensive skills of the artisans are seen through the range of products they create, including ceramics, jewelry, textiles, stained glass and woodwork.

Besides helping preserve a culture rich in tradition, the collective helps artisan producers better design and create high quality crafts, enjoy increased sales and earn a steady income. As a member of the International Fair Trade Association, APTEC Peru ensures artisans are paid fairly for their work, which creates a sustainable working environment for artisans, their families and communities.

Since 2007, Aptec Peru is part of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and the Regional Office for Latin America (WFTO-LA), demonstrating our commitment to social and environmental responsibility in all its processes. Also, we are members of the Fair Trade Movement in Peru that works in the promotion and development of new technology for the environment and nature preservation´s activities.

Their mission

APTEC PERU promotes and develops Peruvian handcrafts aiming to improve the artisans/ producers’ life standards and security through fair trade and better trading conditions. As well as, ensuring that the production processes are respectful with the environment and the ecology.

Their vision

Be a leader organization in the development and commercialization of Peruvian handcrafts and satisfy the life standards of their members.

The artisan families that work with Aptec Peru are also invested in the care and maintenance of their natural resources. Their products are made of natural raw materials such as clay, dried gourds, recycled glass and plant dyes. In addition, the artisans take care to harvest all materials in a sustainable manner, to replenish plant life and maintain water quality. As part of the World Day of the Fair Trade project, the artisans crafted porous ceramic pots that were filled with plants and donated them to 400 families in the village of Nuevo Ayacucho, providing clean air for the community.

Aptec Peru's artisans take great pride in their intricate textiles, beautiful ceramic pots and vases, silver jewelry and creative gourd decorations. In turn, these crafts, and loyal buyers like yourselves, help the artisans create a sustainable income and future.

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