The
process of elaboration of this type of ceramics consists of
severasl steps. First, the clay is extracted from the mountains
of the Valles Calchaquies, in small blocks, previous to a
rigorous selection where high quality material prevails. Then
it is left in water during 1 or 2 days,later on it is strained
with a fine filter to remove all the sludges (stones,wooden
remains, etc.) After 2 more days the clay is in condition
of being used.
Each
of these pieces is hand made by means of a process in which
several clay arrays with the shape of lengthened short sticks
are heaped one upon the other until the basic form of the
piece is achieved.
Then
the craft is finely modeled by using knives and wooden spatulas.
After that different Pre-Columbian designs are engraved using
a chisel. Each craft is then finely refined with a wet piece
of cloth. Lastly the baking of the crafts is carried out in
a firewood oven during 10 hours approximately, to temperatures
ranging from 800 to 900 degrees centigrade. The black colour
of the pieces is achieved by placing "camélido
guano" inside each
of them during the baking process.
