Chulucanas vase

Chulucanas vase

100% fair traded

Dimensions: approx. 23 cm x 11 cm

Chulucanas ceramics

With the aim of dedicating our 2010 trip to Peru to the least profitable organizations and disadvantaged artisans, we met the products of the women's association "Artesanas para el mundo - artisans for the world" in a small town called Chulucanas on the north coast of Peru.

They are said to be descendants of the Tallanes, a pre-Columbian population in this region. Their special and beautiful ceramic products are made according to old templates which they call "Vicus" and despite the considerable period of their existence, new designs keep emerging from them.

In traditional handicraft, the clay is brought into the correct shape by hand and only with the help of simple tools such as a wooden board with a handle, which are then painted with natural mineral colors and fired at 900 degrees using the low-temperature process. First, the clay products are polished with river stones. In order to achieve the different shades, something called negative technique is used. For this purpose, all areas that should remain light are covered with liquid clay and all areas that should remain dark are covered with mango leaves before the second fire. In order to give the figures their typical shine, the figures are cleaned and polished with wax.

As a rule, the ceramic goods from Peru are not glazed and therefore not waterproof.