Ecuador
Arts & Crafts:
Panama
hats I Weavers of Otavalo
I Woodcarving I Bags
I Bread figures I Primitivist
paintings I Andean dress pins
In
Ecuador, there are many places you can go shopping, especially
"artesanias" (handicrafts). The indigenous people make
no distinction between fine arts and crafts. Therefore, handicrafts
are valued for their practical use and beauty, as well as their
labor work.
Panama hats |
For
over a 100 years, most people have been ignoring the fact that
the Panama hat comes from Ecuador. This confusion was originated
because until the 20th century, South American goods, such as:
minerals, cloth, sugar, fruit and several other commodities including
the Panama hat, were exported through the Isthmus of Panama, which
was the safest way to Europe and the United States. A couple of
centuries ago, people from the United States (gold seekers) used
to purchase some of these straw hats.
About
sixty years later, workers from the Panama Canal found out that
these hats were the most convenient to protect them against the
sun. Since then, they named the hats after the place of purchase,
and not for their place of origin and the name passed on through
generations. The hat is made out of a plant called "Carludovica
Palmata", which grows in the western hills of Guayaquil.
These plants are boiled, then dried and finally taken to weaving
centers, such as: Azogues, Biblian, Sigsig, Montecristi and Jipijapa
in Manabi Province. It takes up to three months to manufacture
these hats. Montecristi,
produces the best Panama hat called "Superfinos" that
when turned upside down, these hats should hold water same as
a glass. When rolled up, they should be able to go back to its
original shape without a scratch or wrinkle. For additional information,
see our Panama
Hat Exports section.
Weavers of Otavalo
|
Throughout
the highlands pretty woven textiles are still made, without having
changed their ancient techniques. Otavalo,
is one of the most important weaving and trade centers also known
for its famous handicrafts market.
The
history of weaving started way back at the time of conquest when
the Spanish exploited the human resource of the country through
the feudal system. A textile workshop was then established in
Otavalo, as well as in Cotacachi and Peguche using indigenous
labor and Western technology, such as: the treadle loom, spinning
wheel, etc. When the feudal system finished, it was replaced by
the "huasipungo" system, which rendered the indigenous
people virtual estates on the large farms that were created. Many
of these estates kept operating weaving workshops, producing a
vast amount of cloth in order to commercialize it.
The
textile industry begun in the 1917 when weaving styles and techniques
were introduced by the Scottish to the native workers. Because
of its success, it spread to other villages nearby. Fifty years
later, the huasipungo system was abolished, granting the indigenous
people title to their pieces of land and allowing them to weave
independently.
Nowadays, weaving is focused mainly on tourists and exportation.
The people from Otavalo are famous, not only for their weaving,
but also for their success as traders. They frequently travel
to North America, Venezuela, Colombia and also Europe, in order
to find new markets.
Woodcarving
|
During
the colonial time, churches required woodcarved pieces in order
to adorn the interiors of their buildings. Rich families used
woodcarving for their chairs, benches, chests and mirrors, to
decorate their salons.
Between the 16th and 17th century, woodcarvers from Spain settled
in San Antonio. Nowadays, San Antonio de Ibarra is considered
to be the most important woodcarving center in South America.
At first, the Spanish-Moorish styles were imported to the New
World. However, the workshops of San Antonio spread throughout
Chile, Argentina and Colombia, with their own styles. Today, everybody
in San Antonio is dedicated to woodcarving. As a matter of fact,
every shop sells carved wooden figures. If they do not have what
you want, they will be happy to order it for you.
Bags
|
Plant
fiber can also be used to saw fabric for bags and other articles.
Backpacks are very popular and you can carry much about anything
in there.
In Cotopaxi province, you will find the famous "shigras",
which are bags made from sisal. These bags were originally used
to store dry food. Supposedly, they were even used to carry water
from the wells. The fiber swell when wet to make the bags water
resistant. Plastic containers almost destroyed the shigras, until
the Westerns increased the demands on this product. Shigras are
sold at the market in Salcedo.
The bags are portable and can be sewn very easily. Today, women´s
production is often organized by suppliers who provide dyed fibers
for sewing and later buy the bags to sell. A large needle is used
to sew the strong material and the finished article can last for
a very long time.
Bread figures
|
Calderón,
located northeast of Quito, is famous for its bread. As soon as
you enter this town, you will find shops selling colored figured
made of flour and water in every corner.
This
tradition started because every year, during All Souls Day, people
make small dolls made of bread called "guaguas de pan".
These dolls, as well as other figures shaped as men, women and
donkeys made of wooden molds, were decorated with a simple cross
over the chest in green, black, or red and were offered to the
hungry souls of the dead. Eventually, people started to give these
dolls as gifts to children and friends.
Primitivist paintings
|
Because
of the acceptance of tourists, a regional craft has been developed
in the province of Cotopaxi and surrounding areas, which is
basically primitivist painting on leather of village scenes.
You can obtain these paintings in Otavalo, Quito, or other tourist
destinations. The prices may change, depending on the quality
of the product.
Andean dress pins
|
The
typical pre-Hispanic woman wears a dress that has an urku, the
chumpi or belt and the llicilla. The urku is a large rectangular
cloak which covered the woman completely.
For about one century, this dress was very popular in the rural
areas. As a matter of fact, Andean women still wear this type
of dress, but the model has changed a little bit. Nowadays, this
dress has acquired a western style.
Ecuador
Arts & Crafts:
Panama
hats I Weavers of Otavalo
I Woodcarving I Bags
I Bread figures I Primitivist
paintings I Andean dress pins
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