Crafts of the Departments of Guatemala

Guatemala is a rich country in people and production, each town and region of the country tends to impregnate in its products a different style that, although it is commercialized in another place, always it will be different.

ALTA VERAPAZ

- Textile and Suits the native suits Appear between showiest of the country. In some municipalities, specially in Cobán and San Pedro Carchá, enough indigenous customs have been conserved that the kekchíes Indians have practiced secularly, specially their religious celebrations known like “Pabanc” and paid for by several smaller brotherhoods. Within the department of Verapáz Discharge, generally the fabrics for the huipiles or güipiles are elaborated by means of the system of the loom of palitos. In those representative fabrics of the kekchí group and the pocomchí are different types from elaboration of the regional weave that differs between one and another zone with its reasons, its colors and some figures that represent to have he himself meaning, but by the geographic position in which are the different weavers, yes they have his variations. The techniques, in general term, can be classified in three types of weave: pic' bil, tz'ul and those of the qu'embil the pic'bil is a legitimately cobanero weave. In kekchí, the voice has the mincemeat meaning, or perforated. The güipiles of this style take control of true masters. Those that they are elaborated with greater beauty come from Tzamintacá, to the northeast of Cobán, but also in the neighborhood of this city that can be located one another weaver who nodesmerece its art. She requires much ability to weave in pic'bil, because the thread is broken with facility. In spite of it, the weavers are customary to their work and rare times have difficulty. The technique of the tzu'bil also corresponds to the kechíes its translation is equivalent to braid, or entorchado. The tzu'bil is very current in San Juan Chamelco and San Pedro Carchá. Its characteristic is that during its elaboration I know leave zones entorchadas and others like the simple fabric. In the markets of Cobán it is known like “pierced weave”. In San Juan Chamelco, as well as in some of weaves of Cobán, the white commercial thread is used, as much for the weave as for the brocade and two or three different reasons in horizontal lines of repetition, being the called figures Patux, ch'op and pepén, that is ducks, fragmentation hand grenades and butterflies. The tzu'bil of San Pedro Carchá has a white commercial thread base and the figures are of colors dwelled, green and blue. The qu'embil consists of weave of the pocomchí sector, that includes the municipalities of Tactic, Tamahú, Santa Cruz Verapaz and San Cristóbal Verapáz. In its language, qu'embil, or quembil, means weave. The fabrics of greater importance correspond to Tamahú and Tactic. The güipil of Tamahú is called kak po'ot, whereas the one of Tactic is known like palic arc. The güipiles of these towns are characterized because the piece of the center is different from the one from the sides the native suits appear between showiest of the country. In some municipalities, specially in Cobán and San Pedro Carchá, enough indigenous customs have been conserved that the kekchíes Indians have practiced secularly, specially their religious celebrations known like “Pabanc” and paid for by several smaller brotherhoods.

BAJA VERAPAZ

In this department the elaboration of several crafts stands out, within which we can find the following ones: - Weaves of cotton With this material, can be elaborated Güipiles, cuts and another variety of clothes, which are elaborated in the municipalities of the Chol, Rabinal, San Miguel Chicaj, Cubulco, Seeded, Salamá and Purlhá. - Ceramic traditional East type of crafts, still is elaborated with techniques that were used outdoors at the pre-Hispanic time, as he is it modélalo and molded of the mud by hand, cooking the piece with wood, being the pitchers, the cómales, pots of several sizes and beaters the specialties of the craftsmen, because they are equipment of daily use. - Wood Products are elaborated movable of different types from wood, fine and current, also musical instruments like chinchines, maracas, matracas, guitar and violins, aside are elaborated Masks for ceremonies and celebrations of the Rabinal and Granados municipalities, in addition to the typical toys of each area of the department, specially in the municipality of Hieronymite. - Metallic Products Forged Iron works of which large doorknockers are elaborated, balconies, doors and tools this is elaborated in some of the municipalities, as well as hojalatería for the manufacture of candlesticks and oil lamps. - Pyrotechnics crafts are elaborated pyrotechnicses that are used but that everything in the regional and familiar celebrations. - Jícaras and Guacales For the manufacture of jícara and the guacales, the crust of the nose is used season these instruments are of use domestic servant almost always.

CHIMALTENANGO

Woven they are elaborated of cotton and they constitute clothes of the women, by the same, his elaboration is exclusive of them, the looms and of waist for their creation are used standing up. - Basketwork crafts are elaborated such as bags that are useful to take the daily purchases, baskets, baskets and variety of containers. They are elaborated of wicker, twig and reeds, that are hard and long fibers that facilitate the entretejido one of fibers. - Metallic Products take place balconies, lights, dressing tables, large doorknockers and lamps. The handling of the metal, is a familiar tradition, that has been transmitted of generation in generation. In addition bracelets, chains, ring and dijes these elaborated in gold take place and silver. - Leather bags are elaborated, carries knives, covers for firearms, endorsements for automobiles and arganías. - Pyrotechnics the products that more consumption they have are the packages of cohetillos, machine guns of one and but meters of lake, cachinflines or silbadores, escupidores and buscaniguas. This type of products is used but that everything in familiar celebrations. For the civic and religious celebrations you are used flying pumps, twig rockets, toritos and castles.

CHIQUIMULA

- Cerámica Se elabora la cerámica en dos tipos: Tradicional y vidriada. Para su elaboración se utiliza el barro como materia prima. Se producen ollas, jarros, cántaros, comales, platos, vasijas, pichangas y pocillos. - Jarcia Se producen artículos elaborados con pita de maguey, entre los cuales destacan los lazos para tender ropa, alfombras, bolsas, matates, alforjas y hamacas. - Cuero Para la elaboración se este tipo de artesanías, se trabaja con pieles curtidas de primera calidad, con las cuales se producen bolsas, sillas de montar, gamarras y gamarrones.

EL PROGRESO

- Basketwork With entretejer of vegetal fibers, the inhabitants of this zone elaborate material of daily use like baskets, baskets and azafates. - Rigging Therefore is denominated to the type of crafts that are elaborated with toots, as they are it the hammocks, networks, bows and bags This toots is extracted of penca of the maguey, to a which is called Rigging to him. - Products of palm For being this zone a semi-arid region, takes advantage of this abundant resource in the elaboration hats that the farmers use to protect themselves of the burning sun. - Leather leather crafts work such as chairs to mount, aperos of vaquería, monederos, belts and portfolios these, work with four techniques, which are: Repujado, Pirograbado, Incrustations and Incision. - Tul Of this material blowers for several decorative uses make, or, to intensify the fire of the kitchen. Bed rolls and carpets also make with this material. - Pyrotechnics More than everything, this type of crafts practices between the families of the towns, some times contract employees to produce machine guns, cohetillos, flying pumps, volcancitos and pumps of twig.

ESCUINTLA

Articles of Fishing make atarrayas, aperos harpoons for fishing, hooks, trasmallos and lumpes for fishing, canoes, these same ones are elaborated in the zones near the beach, using material NATURAL like shell of sea and snails. - Weaves are elaborated traditional weaves of cotton, in addition, work gold thread embroiderings and silver, traditional of the region. - Crafts Several make, among other things, wood toys and some elaborated with shells of sea and snails, as they are it marimbas, furniture, soap and curtimbres candles in varied designs, to pulsear, ring, adornments these last ones made with shells of sea and snails.

GUATEMALA

Weaves of cotton Make weaves of cotton for the elaboration of typical suits, but this is only in some municipalities, since the capital is cosmopolitan and any typical suit is not used. - Metallic Products are elaborated traditional products, like doors and balconies, as well as lights oil lamps and candelabra, similarly works the silver for the elaboration of bracelets, dijes, chains, slaves and ring. - Construction equipments In some municipalities fabria roofing tiles of mud, bricks and shake, that consists of a thin table that generally is of pinabete, and uses for the elaboration of ceilings in substitution of roofing tiles. - Pyrotechnics the traditional cohetillos, machine guns, toritos, castles, volcanos and cachinflines, saltapericos or tronadores are elaborated. These are used of common form by the inhabitants of the department for familiar celebrations. As well as for religious celebrations or any celebration.

HUEHUETENANGO

Woven they are elaborated of wool and cotton, which are made by craftsmen of almost all the municipalities. It is a typical task of the women of the town, since they elaborate the clothes of their own family. - Ceramic Vidriada This is a technique that needs long time and effort to take shape. They are needed two cofoundations so that the mud takes the wished brightness. Pots, beaters, jarros and cómales make. - Metallic Products For the elaboration of this type of crafts are used: iron, receives, silver, gold and tin plate. Lights, balconies, large doorknockers and lamps make.

IZABAL

Most of the crafts that are elaborated in the zone are, but that everything, musical instruments, jewels, basketwork, decorative utensils of kitchen and articles. - Crafts the manufacture of networks for the fishing is very important for the coast, thus, that in Port Districts this type of crafts is of daily use. - Instruments the manufacture of masks for the dances and the rituals is fundamental, as well as the manufacture of chinchines. Ornamentación articles are designed in addition, which usually accompany with natural materials like the bone or jade, with these materials, and using marine Shells, and they make necklaces, earrings, ring, bracelets and peinetas. - Wood Wood Utensils, the main tool that is elaborated in this zone is JANA, who is not more than a mortar similar to a sand clock, with the investigated superior part, that some times is extracted by burned of the wood. In addition the FAGAYU, that is a wood spatula that is used to move great amounts of foods EGUI that consist of a wood base that in its surface has incrustations of piedrecillas. - Basketwork For the elaboration of this type of crafts is used a called fiber Bayal, which is very little, which this causing that this tradition is lost, because this activity this leaving itself in the forgetfulness by the difficult thing to find of the fiber. - Ornamentales Crafts are used materials like, crust of the Coco, sea turtle, cobrush, güiscoyol, which are used like personal adornments, bracelets, ring, pins, pipes, etc. also are elaborated ornamentos of Silver and gold. - Sculpture For this type of art precious wood like the Mahogany, the Cedar, Hormigo are used and also coconuts. This crafts of polished carving and by hand, are of much value for the inhabitants of the region.

JALAPA

Vidriada ceramics the designs of this type of ceramics are varied. They make of red mud, and ducks, pichingas, tinajas and armadillos are elaborated. - Domestic Architecture the architecture of this zone is of Spanish origin, of the time of the conquest, of colonial type, with balconies, and front doors or exit for the residences. This style is so important, since this in danger of disappearance by the elaborated thing of the technique.

JUTIAPA

Traditional ceramics is elaborated all type of ceramics, like for example: vasijas, jarros, glasses, plates, the coevils, adornments of table and wall, containers of kitchen. - Products of Palm design hats, baskets, baskets, baskets, etc. - Leathers make chairs to mount, aperos of vaquería, belts, carries knives, etc. - Pyrotechnics flying pumps, pumps, twig rockets, cohetillos and machine guns are elaborated. These are used for the familiar celebrations, as well as for the regional or religious celebrations.

PETEN

This department is characterized to have great versatility in the elaboration of utensils and crafts. We see that they are elaborated morrales, whistles, bows, networks and hammocks, which become of maguey fiber. As far as the wood crafts, they are elaborated movable of all the musical types, as well as instruments like guitars and contrabasses, in addition of which several jarros and typical toys of the region are elaborated. Mud bricks are constructed, which are elaborated by hand and its cofoundation is with firewood furnace, which dries and founds the piece, thus obtaining, its force and consistency. - Goldsmiths and Silversmiths are elaborated gold pieces and silver, all are of quality and varied form. Bracelets, hoops, earrings, ring, bracelets are elaborated. - Enhiladera de Flores the white flower that lines up in chivito or bands, that are a palito of Coco palm where enhilan the flowers. It consists of placing in a thread flowers of the denominated ones of May, those that are located in a varita as it informs, obtained of the Coco leaf.

QUETZALTENANGO

Weaves In this department are only elaborated cotton weaves, this, it is an exclusive work for the women of the department, and they are elaborated güipiles, courteous, skirts, table cloths, napkins, moustache supports, centers of tables and weaves. For the form of this type of weaves it is standing up used the looms and of waist. - Ceramic it is elaborated ceramic traditional and ceramic vidriada. Generally, to be able to give him to a touch glass finish to the ceramics one is due to cook twice.

EL QUICHÉ

s one of the most important departments as far as their artisan production. He excels the traditional fabric elaboration of cotton and wool. Those of cotton, woven by the women in waist looms; and those of wool, by the men in looms standing up, although the small pieces like morrales, bags and caps, they are woven by hand, with needle. Another important crafts are the elaboration of hats of palm of high quality. The women make braids at any time, in house or the ways when they go to the market. These braids give them to the factories where they sew the hats. Also musical instruments elaborate, missile technology, traditional ceramics, leather articles, basketwork, rigs, wood furniture and carving of masks.

RETALHULEU

Basketwork two forms for the basketworks, Entretejida are used and in Cooked or coiled Spiral, with these forms cane baskets, balances and baskets can be elaborated. - Braids and hats These braids and hats are elaborated of the palm, that are the turn out to entretejer the fiber of the stem of the palm. - Brooms make of palm and pajoncillo and are elaborated by hand by the men of the town, in different sizes and measures. - Mud Bricks As raw material is used the mud of the region, are elaborated with molds that are dried to the sun, and soon they are put under a firewood furnace, to give him to the characteristic consistency and the reddish appearance. - Musical Instruments Most of these crafts are elaborated of wood of pine and cedar, or both, combining them. Guitars, violins, contrabasses are elaborated. - Pyrotechnics the missile technology factories are of familiar character, like all the popular crafts where the members of the families work. They produce packages of cohetillos, flying machine guns, pumps, twig rockets, toritos, castles, etc. - Iron In this specialty balconies, lights, dressing tables, albadones, lamps, horseshoes and another type of works are elaborated mainly. This type of crafts is influenced by inheritance, of generation in generation.

SACATEPÉQUEZ

Weaves This earth is rich in typical weaves, is demonstrated in the great amount of suits that are used, the women are those that conserve usanza of the typical suit more. - Ceramic an important amount of ceramics in this department is elaborated, the techniques of vidriada mayólica are used and painting. They are elaborated all type of things with this ceramics, from jarros, to adornments of table and wall. - Wood Works In this department work fine and common wood, with which they are elaborated movable of all types, as they are it sofas, furniture of dining room, coffins, coffers, utensils of kitchen and small boxes. Between the instruments that make are the guitars, violins and contrabasses, which s do of cedar and pine wood. - Products Metálicos and Orfebrería the iron for the elaboration of balconies, lights is used, dressing tables, large doorknockers and lamps. Also products of silver and gold work, of which chains, bracelets, ring, slaves and dijes are elaborated.

SAN MARCOS

Woven cotton and tweeds, such as, blouses, shirts, t-shirts, cuts are elaborated, güipiles, that are for use of the inhabitants of the department. - Ceramic to elaborate this type of crafts the winch is used, and the piece is burned with firewood, to give the firmness him that it requires. They are elaborated jarros, porrones, candelabra, censers, the coevils and pots.

SANTA ROSA

Weaves of Cotton are elaborated articles to dress typical the zone, in addition to the elaboration of t-shirts and blouses of this material. - Basketwork As raw material is used palta, tule, wicker, zibaque and twig of bamboo. With this type of materials baskets make, petaquillas and cases. - Rigging For the elaboration of this tipi of crafts is used like raw material the fiber of the maguey, which is extracted of penca of the maguey. With her bags make, provisions, morrales, bows to tend clothes and hammocks. - Movable furniture makes as tables, chairs, lockers and trinchantes, fine and common all of wood. - Musical Instruments are elaborated of wood, most common they are the guitars and the contrabasses. - Talabartería Leathers, therefore are denominated to the art to work this type of materials, and the east department makes: arperos of vaquería, chairs to mount, covers for machetes and firearms, endorsements for automobiles, bags for ladies and arganías to take load.

SOLOLÁ

Weaves of Cotton are elaborated weaves of cotton in almost all the municipalities of this department, using for it the waist loom, this type of weave makes the woman solely. - Tweeds the material is obtained from the owners of the flocks of ewes that grow up in the plateau of the country. Of this type of weaves they are only used in the municipality of Nahualá. - Ceramic the mud of the region is used like raw material, of which pots, cómales and vases can be elaborated. - Products of East Palm type of crafts is but that everything of familiar type, are elaborated of leaves and cogollos. Brooms take place. - Tul Of this material, bed rolls and blowers take place. In order to be able to handle this material, single the stem of the same one is used which entreteje to each other.

SUCHITEPÉQUEZ

Weaves of Cotton Of this type of weaves are elaborated the clothes of the indigenous group that lives in the region, for their elaboration types of loom are used both that exist, the one of waist and the one of pedal. Of this type of material the cuts and the güipiles of the region are elaborated. - Chandler's shop head of cattle tallow candles or candles are elaborated or of paraffin, these are used in religious uses, to give cultured the saints of the region. These candles are offered in gratefulness to santo of the devotion to which the miracle was requested to him, or when a miracle was granted. - Leather is elaborated monederos, cigar cases, cases, carries knives, cases, straps, chairs and equipments, these last ones used in animals of load and mount. - Roofing tile is elaborated of mud, with molds, this type of roofing tile is dried to the sun, and soon this is put under a wood furnace for its baking, is what it gives his characteristic consistency him, as well as its reddish appearance. - Orfebrería This is the one of the most traditional uses of the region, using silver like raw material. It is familiar crafts, is trained to the children from small so that they learn the handling of the tools. Earrings, chains of different types, bracelets, ring and other objects are elaborated. - Movable they are elaborated with white pine, although also of cedar, mahogany and other wood that are considered fine. They are elaborated: drawers, lockers, beds, dining-room suites, games of room and booksellers, among others. - Masks These masks are used fundamentally for dances and of decorative form in some cases. For their manufacture fine wood are used, like the white pine and the cedar.

ZACAPA

As far as the popular crafts, its production is relatively low. In this form we can see that the cotton weaves work them solely in San Diego and Río Hondo. ; the rigging in Estanzuela and Río Hondo; furniture in San Diego, Cabins, Estanzuela, Zacapa, Hondo River, Unión and Gualán. Thus also the inhabitants of Estanzuela make gorgeous embroiderings, which are appreciated and solicitd of all parts. In equal form they are quesadillas, and the candies of grapefruit and mazapán.

es:Artesanías de los Departamentos de Guatemala