Shipibo Ceramic Ball Ornament

Perfect for your Christmas tree or an all-year decoration, this ball ornament has been handmade by a member of Peru's ancient Shipibo tribe. The Shipibo are well known for their traditional ceramic arts, which are often decorated with geometric patterns inspired by their ancestral cosmology. Each pattern is unique and attributed not to the individual artisan who created it, but to the collective consciousness of the entire tribe. As such, each piece shares a traditional tale of inspiration, ancient knowledge, and collective wisdom.

• Measures 1-1/2" in diameter
• Also available as a Bell, Vase, or Set of Three

Handmade and fair trade imported from Peru.

Shipibo art is well-known for its intricate designs, yet little understood by the outside world. Some anthropologists consider the geometric patterns an ancient language form; others speculate they represent an ancient cosmology, the mapping of the Amazon rivers or the shapes of an Anaconda. While anthropologists disagree on the exact meaning, art lovers may enjoy the elaborate design, soft curves and the light weight of each piece, which is handcrafted without the use of pottery wheels.

Shipibo ceramics have grown more involved over time, with sophisticated patterns passing from one generation of artisans to the next. Shipibo artisans, often the women of the village, are not formally trained. Rather, they're collectively inspired to create their own distinctive patterns and work together to produce a single piece. To an observer, each woman seems moved by the same artistic spirit; one woman can interrupt her work and assign another artisan to complete that particular piece. The finished art will look like it was made by a single artist. This is communal art at its finest.

Aptec Peru is an artisan collective located near Lima, Peru. The organization is a community of 16 family workshops that employs about 140 individuals from low-income areas. The extensive skills of the artisans are seen through the range of products they create, including ceramics, jewelry, textiles, stained glass and woodwork.

Besides helping preserve a culture rich in tradition, the collective helps artisan producers better design and create high quality crafts, enjoy increased sales and earn a steady income. As a member of the International Fair Trade Assocation, APTEC Peru ensures artisans are paid fairly for their work, which creates a sustainable working environment for artisans, their families and communities.

Their mission

APTECPERU looks forward to promote and develop Peruvian handcrafts aiming to improve artisans producers’ life standards and security through a fair trade and better trade conditions. Also looks that the production processes are respectful with the environment and the ecology.

Their vision

Be a leader organization in the development and commercialization of Peruvian handcrafts and satisfy the life standards of their members.

The artisan families that work with Aptec Peru are also invested in the care and maintenance of their natural resources. Their products are made of natural raw materials such as clay, dried gourds, recycled glass and plant dyes. In addition, the artisans take care to harvest all materials in a sustainable manner, to replenish plant life and maintain water quality. As part of the World Day of the Fair Trade project, the artisans crafted porous ceramic pots that were filled with plants and donated them to 400 families in the village of Nuevo Ayacucho, providing clean air for the community.

Aptec Peru's artisans take great pride in their intricate textiles, beautiful ceramic pots and vases, silver jewelry and creative gourd decorations. In turn, these crafts, and loyal buyers like yourselves, help the artisans create a sustainable income and future.