Peru is proud of a large variety of arts and crafts. Among these arts include pottery that is famous all over the world, especially North America. Among the most common handicraft activities in Peru is pottery. Pottery from Peru is traded in numerous markets such as Arequipa, Juliaca and Cuzco. Here are a few of them.
Puno Pottery
Puno pottery is also known as ceramic pottery. The most common piece of Puno pottery in Peru is torito de Pucara or the ceramic bull. This piece of pottery was made initially as a ritualistic element as a part of the cattle branding ceremony. The bull, which also doubled as a flask, was filled with chicha or the blood from cattle. The high priest consumed this during the ceremonies. Other objects made by the Puno potters are homes, country chapels and churches, all of which are covered with a white glaze. The figures are embellished with flowers made from glass that is ground finely. Flora and fauna specific to the Titicaca area, dancers and musicians are other commonly used motifs on these pieces of pottery.
Shipibo pottery
This type to pottery is made by women living around the Ucayali River. The Shipibo pottery uses clay of high quality called Neapo. The motifs that cover this type of pottery are popular geometric designs and lines which primarily showcase the artist’s vision. The pieces of pottery that are widely known are the ones carved into glasses with different shapes like half beast. These have different positions and distinctive sexes. Tortoise jars that are very large in size and local bird shaped ones are also common in the Shipibo pottery type.
Cusco pottery
The Inca tradition primarily influences the Cusco pottery. The Inca Renaissance is the movement that has encouraged the potters to make a wide variety of pieces. Among these pieces are raquis, ayanas, qochas, arybolos and other types of crockery. Ppucus or dishes and tica Curuna or flower motif are also well known. The genre of pottery known as the ‘grotesque’ also originated in this pottery form. Eriberto Merida is the artist who brought this genre to the forefront, after being inspired by Quinua and its figures. These figures are unpolished and rough; mostly feature Christ and peasants who have a tormented look with large hands.
These types of pottery are alive even today, with artists from various regions making them. In fact there are several arts and crafts centres that encourage Peruvian pottery by creating a special market for it.
