Curioles are created from the oxidation of natural elements from the earth. The ingenuity of the Chorotega people shines through their use of mineral stones what they call “curioles”. Placed outside for at least 24 hours to dry, the power of the sun continues the traditional process.Ī natural stone creates the protective shine and polish on the clay sculpture by their steady and practiced hands. Much of craftwork has been expertly practiced emulating the original artifacts in Costa Rica’s museums as the government has provided them photographs allowing the artisans to craft the details true to history and design.įinalizing the design and form is done with all-natural materials of knives, wooden spoons even tools made from gourds, rubber, and sticks by the steady expert hands of the artesian. The love and passion for their handicraft continue as they mold their creations on the pottery wheel shaping vases, jars, pots, pitchers, bowls, ornaments, and urns. There are no quick easy ways around this, just 100 percent heart and sweat carrying on their ancestor’s respected methods. Some may even use the help of their feet to get it soft and malleable enough to transform its consistency. The expert hands then knead it, working it to make it pliable enough to create the desired texture for their beautiful shapes and structures. Together the iguana sand and the powder are combined with water to begin the process of creating the substance needed to work with. It is the sand in which the iguanas often lay their eggs and is found several kilometers from Guaitil at the riverside digging below the surface to find their most special ingredient. This odd-sounding sand is named rightly so, after the iguanas. Once it has become a dusty powder consistency it is mixed with one of their most important elements, the iguana sand. It then must be broken down even further separating the larger pieces of materials, rocks, and pebbles through a sieve. The labor continues as it is then pulverized and pounded to become a powder within large mortars and pestles and wooden urns using their own energy and strength. The mud is not collected by machine or tractor, it is done by hard labor with a cart and shovel extracting it themselves to be brought back to be dried. The community sustains their livelihood from the production of their distinguishable pottery and takes great pride in maintaining its authenticity and original roots local sourcing all that is needed. Right from the beginning, the ingredients that are used to create these original pieces come straight from the earth using local clay. It is a not simple process by any means as they carry on the traditional ways which have continued to make their pottery so desired and adored. Traces and influences of their culture can be seen within many of their designs. Every step and tool involved is in its purest form embracing their heritage which is displayed through each carefully crafted piece of pottery. Although they are not a population that once was, they are proud of their ancestral methods and culture preserving their legacy through their famous art of clay pottery making.įrom generation to generation over centuries the artisan pottery traditions have been passed down keeping the primitive techniques of the Chorotega indigenous people alive. However, through the years the Chorotega indigenous community has decreased with time. The Chorotega people inhabited the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica originally after being driven away from Mexico. Nestled off the beaten path between Santa Cruz and Nicoya is where you will find the artesian pottery village of Guaitil, in Guancaste’s province often referred to as the Chorotega region. Guaitil is a community of true authenticity preserving history and time throughout the years, there are no replicas or facades here, just ingenuity and spirit.
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