Read down for an insight into the Arts and Crafts of Argentina.

Copyright   Footprint Books

All over Argentina you'll find fine handicrafts made by local indigenous groups, which vary widely all over the country, or by the continuing tradition of gaucho craftsmen, who make fine pieces associated with rural life.

Gaucho Crafts

There's a strong tradition of working precious metals, such as silver, into fine belts and buckles, since the gaucho's way of carrying his wealth with him was originally in the ornate silver rastras and buckles which are still used today over leather belts, or to tie fajas (woven cloth belts). Silver spurs, stirrups and the fine silver decoration on saddles are all extraordinary examples of traditions dating from the early 18th century. The gaucho facón an all purpose knife used especially for cutting his asado, is made with elaborately wrought silver handle, and the mate (the vessel itself, rather than the drink) which is often just a hollowed out gourd, can also be an exquisitely worked piece of silver which you'd probably rather display than use. Associated objects with the same fine silverwork today include earrings, belt buckles and scarf rings. Leather was always important for making all the items associated with horses, and obviously widely available, and the complexity of the traditional bridles, belts and straps is impressive. Long thin strips of leather are woven into wide plaits, or trensas and used still for all parts of horse bridlery, as well as more decorative pieces. The mate itself is made most traditionally from the gourd, but also from wood, tin or silver, with attractive examples made by artisans in the Lake District at El Bolsón, for example.

Indigenous Crafts
Argentina's many indigenous groups produce fine handicrafts spanning all disciplines from woodwork to weaving, musical instruments to jewellery. In the northeast, the Guaraní produce fine woodwork, much of it inspired by the rich animal and bird life all around them. Delicate fabric for bags is woven from the tough fibrous strands of tree creepers, and there are necklaces made from seeds. Carved wooden animals are widely available, along with replicas for tourists of their traditional weapons, bows and arrows and pea shooters.

Handicrafts are richest in the northwest, particularly the Valles Calchaquíes, near the puna and along the Quebrada de Humahuaca, where there is abundant llama wool and vicuña, which is woven into ponchos, or knitted into jumpers, socks, scarves and hats. Brightly coloured woven textiles from Bolivia can also be found at many markets. The ubiquitous pan pipes are the most available examples of instruments from the rich Andean musical tradition, and can be found in abundance at Tilcara and Purmamarca markets. Ponchos are woven throughout the northwest but particularly fine examples can be found in the Calchaquíes valleys and around Salta, where the red ponchos of Güemes are made, and in western Catamarca province, where there are the finest ponchos of woven vicuña are made. You can also fine beautiful woven wall hangings in Los Valle Calchaquíes, often depicting scenes of churches in the valleys, and the local symbol, the ostrich-like suri and wood from the giant cardón cactus is used for carving distinctive small objects and furniture, with the spines of the cactus leaving attractive slits in the wood. For conservation reasons, only fallen trees are used.

In the Chaco region, bags are made from textile woven from chaguar fibre by Wichí, Toba, and other indigenous groups of the area, as they have done for hundreds of years. The Wichí also make fine wooden objects, animals mainly, from palo santo, a greenish scented wood, also used extensively in wood carving by communities who live along the Río Pilcomayo which forms the border with Paraguay. In northeastern Salta, painted wooden masks are made by the Chané culture to be used in traditional agricultural ceremonies. They also make charming ceramics in the shape of animals. Isolated indigenous groups of Toba, Chané and Mataco in the lowlands to the east of the province produce exquisite carvings of birds and animals, using a variety of local woods. Cowbones are used to make the beaks and feet, as well as an inlay to decorate spoons and other utilitarian items. And Palo santo is also used for mate vessels, replacing the traditional gourd. Throughout the south, there are superb Mapuche weavings in natural wool colours with bold geometric designs.