Chulucanas Pottery History

Chulucanas pottery is a special earthenware made from a clay found only in the surroundings of Chulucanas, a small village near Piura in northern Peru. The technique for making this unique pottery, involving only the use of the artisan’s hands and feet, stone and wooden tools, dates back to pre-Columbian times. These techniques have their roots with the Vicus culture of Northern Peru and have existed for over 2000 years. The skills have been passed on from family member to family member for generations.

Once a piece is molded by hand, the baking process is carried out in several stages. Smoke from burning wood and mango leaves creates a black color on the piece except on the areas which have been covered by a glaze and mud mixture. Once the pieces have been fired, they are polished by rubbing them with a fine stone. This polishing completes the process and gives each piece a matte to semi-gloss finish.

To learn more about Chulucanas, feel free to send us an email info@pachaimports.com

 

The Oven