Page 45 - Artesania Catalogo_Neat

WOOD AND STONE CARVINGS

The country still has precious hardwoods These rooster carvings along with the
such as mahogany, oak and guayacán (lignum wooden saints of Bonao and the butterflies
vitae) as well as others such as pine, almacigo, made from coconut shells from Moca, were
acacia utilized for the manufacture of furniture recognized by UNESCO with the Seal of
and decorative carvings such as birds (roosters, Excellence in 2006.
parrots, fish) and those made of lignum vitae
inspired by Taíno Art which are in wide demand Lignum vitae carvings with Taíno themes
in the tourism market. are made principally in the community of
Los Bancos de Arena and La Malena en
During colonial times, the first carvings Guayacanes, in the Province San Pedro de
coming from the country were Santos de Palo Macorís-SPM, in the Historical Village of La
(Wooden Saints), a Hispanic tradition that has Isabela in Puerto Plata as well as in Las Galeras
recently been revived by a group of young in Samaná.
sculptors from Bonao.
Other lathed carvings are made for the
Saints and fishing boat (cayucos) replicas manufacture of mortars made of baítoa, baya-
are also carved by a group of young artisans honda and lignum vitae wood in Boquerón,
from Miches, El Seibo Province. Azua and the surrounding communicates. There
are also shallow basins made of almacigo and
Bird carvings from Cambita, San Cristóbal fig tree wood, made in the community of El Pino
arose from the little roosters made in the mid at Km. 8 ½ on the Duarte Highway between La
60’s by the deceased Don Erasmo Puello, who Vega and Bonao.
left a legacy to his children that has been ad-
opted by other artisans from this community.

Artesanía Dominicana | Dominican Crafts | 45