Description
*Please note that these are unsealed, so are not meant to hold water
They also come in hundreds of different shapes and colours so we will try to match your request as closely as possible.
The beautiful patterns have been etched by hand in Nicaragua by using sharpened bicycle spokes in a technique called “scrafitto.”
Approximate size
7.5cm tall x 5cm wide
Care
Clean with a soft cloth
Do not put in the dishwasher
How these mini ceramic vessels are made
These mini ceramic vessels are made in Nicaragua from freshly collected clay on a traditional manual kick-wheel and fired on a large outdoor kiln.
The artisans are masters of a very detailed geometric work that can be seen on these ornaments. Each piece is gridded out on the vessel and then the surface is meticulously scratched using a sharpened bicycle spoke, a technique called “scrafitto.”
How your purchase can make a difference
Known as the “land of lakes and volcanoes” Nicaragua is also home to the second-largest rain-forest of the Americas and a popular tourist destination. However it is also among the poorest countries in the Americas and 48% of the population of Nicaragua live below the poverty line, with 79.9% of the population living on less than $2 per day
Fairtrade benefits to communities
Your purchase will help support families like Don Leopoldo Potosme and Sara in the ceramic community of San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua.
In this community house and workshop are often integrated as one. The home of Leopoldo and Sara is no different, and with nine family members sharing the space, they literally eat, sleep and breathe pottery. The Potosme family has four children, two of whom, with their spouses, help to produce the orders for Women of the Cloud Forest.
With the proceeds from their Fair Trade crafts, they have been able to send their youngest son to medical school!
About the suppliers
Women of the Cloud Forest has been working in fair trade since 2001 and have direct, long-term relationships with small family workshops and cooperatives in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. In addition to placing consistent orders with their artisan partners, they provide business training and product development/design and offer no-interest micro-loans and direct grants for workshop capacity building.
This holistic approach to business enables their artisan partners to grow their businesses and access new markets without creating cycles of dependency.
Michelle V (verified owner) –
So pretty, bought as part of a housewarming gift. Perfect for a small single flower or displayed just as it is. Very skilled craftsmanship to make such a tiny vase from soapstone.