OUR COLLECTION — LATIN AMERICA — ECUADOR 237. ROUND CLAY NATIVITY
This painted clay Nativity from Ecuador contains round stylized figures. The set include the Holy Family, a sheep, an ox, and a baby llama. The clay on the animals achieves its “furry” look from clay that was extruded through a die to be thin and stringy like spaghetti. Mary’s and Joseph’s clothing represents that which is worn by indigenous people of the Sierra Mountains located in the Cañar province of southern Ecuador. The tallest figures measure 3 inches tall.
This item is distributed by Camari, a group initiated in 1981 as a complement to the work of FEPP (a Christian development agency) which assists farmers throughout Ecuador. Camari works to confront the problem of marketing agricultural and handicraft products on behalf of several hundred peasant groups. This work enables these small farmers, or “campesinos,” to remain in their home communities instead of leaving to find scarce work in the cities. Camari unites people, works to ensure they receive stable, fair income and enables them to carry on family traditions of working the land, as well as preserving indigenous culture through the creation of traditional crafts.
This item is distributed by Camari, a group initiated in 1981 as a complement to the work of FEPP (a Christian development agency) which assists farmers throughout Ecuador. Camari works to confront the problem of marketing agricultural and handicraft products on behalf of several hundred peasant groups. This work enables these small farmers, or “campesinos,” to remain in their home communities instead of leaving to find scarce work in the cities. Camari unites people, works to ensure they receive stable, fair income and enables them to carry on family traditions of working the land, as well as preserving indigenous culture through the creation of traditional crafts.