Art of Cusco

The popular art in Cusco is the result of the meeting of two worlds, the merge between the ancient andean world conception and the European conception in the XIV and XV centuries. In addition to this connection, we have the quality, the technique, the notable skill of the artisans in any expression: textile, pottery and imagery as well as silversmith work and candle art.

There is not an archaeological site, nor a town where they do not offer you beautiful handicraft pieces. Almost in any central place of the city of Cusco we can find shops or street vendors and even in the porches of the Main Square, for instance.

But there are also workshops of famous artisans traditionally joint in the district of San Blas. There they make the famous sculptures of saints, archangels and Santiagos with long neck, done with paste of wheat flour, rice and cheese. They are considered as real masterpieces of the collection.

Besides, the alpaca, llama and sheep wool are also important as well as felt hats. You can also find beautiful silver pieces, with Inca and Colonial features. There are also silver pieces with inca and colonial features, diverse pottery, musical instruments such as quenas, zamponas and charangos. You can also find mirrors with plaster and pan de oro (golden ornaments) , as well as some paintings with regional purposes.

The artisan offer in Cusco is diverse, we find cloth, images, pottery pieces, silver jewels, carvings, among other objects. Without a question one of the most important districts is San Blas due to its artisan tradition. There, you can admire the workshops of the masters such as Mendivil, Edilberto Merida, Antonio Olave and Gregorio Bejar The rich and variety of images include kings, virgins, Manuelito’s valley, archangels among many other pieces.

Pottery

Artisans from Cusco are representatives of two traditions of high quality: the Inca and the Colonial. The style of the Imperial Inca is mainly characterized by the quality of its polish, the simplicity and nobleness of its shapes, as well as the sobriety in the decoration which is frequently imitated by artisans in Cusco these days.

During the colony, the best pottery of Cusco was made with glasses. They mainly used green over the cream background with designs mostly fitomorphos, though this type of production is unusual nowadays