OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — CAMEROON 30. CLAY VILLAGE NATIVITY
This native Cameroon village is made of clay by artisan Alphonse Yenji (pronounced Yen-i). The clay is shaped, fired in a kiln, cooled, and then dipped into a dye from boiled eucalyptus tree bark to make the bronze patina. The 21 pieces include: Mary, Joseph, Jesus in a manger, a young boy, three wise men, three camels, two shepherds, one woman with a basket, one longhorn sheep, two regular sheep, two zebu cattle, and three donkeys. The tallest figures are 8 inches high.
The Presbyterian Handicraft Centre, known as Prescraft, was organized by the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon as a nonprofit organization to benefit disadvantaged craftspeople. Men and women produce traditional West African handicrafts including baskets, pottery, woodcarvings, brass castings and musical instruments. Artisans working at three rural production centers earn a good income based on piece work. Some artisans combine handicraft production at home with farming or trading. Prescraft provides employment for close to 800 artisans, 40 percent of whom are women.
The Presbyterian Handicraft Centre, known as Prescraft, was organized by the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon as a nonprofit organization to benefit disadvantaged craftspeople. Men and women produce traditional West African handicrafts including baskets, pottery, woodcarvings, brass castings and musical instruments. Artisans working at three rural production centers earn a good income based on piece work. Some artisans combine handicraft production at home with farming or trading. Prescraft provides employment for close to 800 artisans, 40 percent of whom are women.
