gold

Peru is rightfully proud of its pre-Hispanic heritage. Images related to it appear in many of its modern handcrafts, and jewelry making is no exception. This necklace by Adriana de Gadea depicts an Inca warrior standing on the curved blade known as a tumi, and the shape is repeated on his helmet. The sun refers to Inti Raymi, their most important deity. Crafted of sterling silver, the pendant and chain are bathed in 18k gold.

Inspired by the amazing Nazca geoglyphs in Peru, this decorative bowl features the image of the characteristic hummingbird from ancient iconography. Members of the Huaman Paucar Family handcraft the bowl of ceramic, diligently painting the bowl by hand to surround the central image with geometric motifs in colors that evoke the beauty of the sunset.

Weaving is an ancient tradition in the Andes, and handwoven Inca textiles were more highly prized than gold. Carrying on the legacy, Eliazar Ochoa creates an intricate cushion cover of dazzling beauty. His motifs are inspired by ancient Andean art, executed in a woolen palette of glowing warmth.

Weaving is an ancestral tradition in the Andes, and handloomed Inca textiles were once more highly prized than gold. Carrying on the legacy, Eliazar Ochoa creates an intricate tapestry of breathtaking beauty from wool. The details are inspired by ancient Andean art and executed in an elegant, cool palette.

The iconography of the Incas serves as the foundation for the design of this pair of ceramic pendant necklaces from Peruvian artisan Dina. Against a vivid red background, symbols and shapes in black and gold recall the geometric patterns of Incan art. Each ring-shaped pendant features a bead in these same shades. The medallions are painted by hand and hang from black nylon cord.

With the style of her designs, artisan Dina wishes to give a fitting expression to the legacy of the Incas of her native Peru. She presents an artisan crafted ceramic pendant necklace hand painted in beautiful jewel tones. Fuchsia, green, and purple combine with the gold and black tones of the pendant which features geometric shapes recalling Inca iconography; a symbol of the sun, the heavenly body at the core of the Inca's religious beliefs, sits at the center of the doughnut-shaped pendant which is topped with a bead painted in similar hues.

Patiently handwoven on the backstrap loom, ancient motifs recall the splendor of the Inca empire, when such textiles were more highly prized than gold. Artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco craft a handbag of timeless beauty, combining blue and with two shades of red on a dark blue background. They name their design for Chinchero, where time seems to have stood still for centuries and the Quechua language is spoken and seek to keep the old textile traditions alive.

The community raises and cares for its own alpacas. The fleece is washed, carded and spun by hand using a pushka, or drop spindle. The dyes come from plants, nuts and tree bark. The next step is one of the most important, as the artisan prepares the warp, or vertical threads for the backstrap loom. This determines the size of the textile, the color combinations, and the patterns that will be woven.

The intensity of color can vary depending on the hardness of the water, the altitude and the local dye sources, making each textile a unique piece of handcrafted art. The bag is fully lined and opens to reveal a convenient zipper pocket.

The Saga of the Ayar Brothers, telling the origins of Cusco, gives life to a sublime series of decorative vases that pay homage to the ancient Empire of the Incas. Titled Ayar Manco in honor of the surviving brother that sunk his golden cane on the sacred mountains, Peruvian artisans Rolando and Luis' creation comes in a cylindrical shape imitating the classic kero vases, all embellished with a warm palette that enhances each geometric motif typical of the Andean region.