Tiny musicians gather at a table in front of a wall full of instruments. Brightly painted retablo ornament is hand-molded plaster figures inside of a dried gourd. Decorative only. Keep out of reach of children. 

Retablos, image boxes, were brought to Peru from Spain, and portrayed scenes of faith and daily life. These retablos join this centuries-long art form. Tiny figurines are hand-molded from plaster paste. “Boxes” vary from whitewashed wood to dried out gourds or delicately emptied eggshells— each one covered with intricate, colorful freehand designs. Artisans from towns like Ayacucho, Cuzco and impoverished sections of Lima, Peru have revitalized this ancient craft as a source of vital income.

Plaster, gourd, string, 3.25D inches

Donated by a friend of Access Tucson Community Media.

Artisan Group: Manos Amigas

Country: Peru

Manos Amigas, “Hands Joined In Friendship,” works with family workshops and small businesses making a variety of handicrafts in impoverished areas of Lima and in the Andean highlands.

Manos Amigas is a fair trade organization dedication to the export of handicrafts and to alternative tourism. Manos Amigas, which means “Hands Joined In Friendship,” works with family workshops and with small business groups and associations that make a variety of handicrafts in impoverished areas of Lima and in the Andean highlands. Manos Amigas offers training workshops for their artisans. They also participate in international trade fairs, thus gaining new markets.

Manos Amigas was established in Lima in 1991. It began with 10 to 12 producer groups. Ten Thousand Villages was one of its two first customers. Ten Thousand Villages purchases ornaments, nativities, retablos, jewelry, ceramics, musical instruments, painted wood items, finger puppets, reverse painted glass items and miniature animals from Manos Amigas. Ten Thousand Villages has purchased products from Manos Amigas since 1991.