Craftsmanship is defined as an art and a technique of manual work, which escapes mass production (handicrafts). Even when following a pattern, each piece is unique and reveals the care and aptitude of the artisan who dedicated him or herself to the execution of every detail of that piece.
Ceará is one of the richest states in cultural diversity, where artisans use a huge variety of techniques and materials to make their handcrafts. See below some of these materials and how they are used!
Leather
If you know the northeast of Brazil, then you know that leather is an extremely important material, due to its historical context. During the 1800s a group of people named cangaceiros wore very distinctive leather hats, and also used leather clothes and boots.
The products you’ll usually find on sale are espadrilles, sandals, shoes and footwear in general. But belts, bags, decorative objects, pyrogravures (pictures drawn onto the leather using heat), floor mats and curtains are also highly sought after.
They are mainly sold in fairs in the countryside and commercial centers in the capital and can be found in small workshops in urban areas of regions whose main trade is livestock, such as; Aracoiaba, Itapiúna, Crato, Morada Nova and Jaguaribe.
Carnauba straw
Carnauba straw is one of the most abundant raw materials in Ceará, and it is often used to make different styles of bags and hats, for example.
In addition to being used for crafts, the whole Carnaúba tree can be used. The root becomes medicine, the fruits can be eaten and wood is used in construction.
Handicrafts – Filet lace
This embroidery technique comes from Europe, however, in the northeast it was inspired by fishing nets. This embroidery is also known as “knotted net”, and is woven through a cotton thread mesh, with small spacings and filled with a variety of combinations of stitches.
Free hand embroidery
“The art of drawing with lines”. This technique can be used on different fabrics, such as t-shirts, jeans, ecobags and canvases, and without the need to follow a specific pattern and thus being free to create.
Handicrafts – Wood and ceramic sculptures
Sculpture is the art of spatial forms in tree dimensions, and part of its deeper meaning lies in the transformation of raw material into pieces with sentimental value.
In Ceará, these sculptures, along with other ceramics, are very well known. Many of these handcrafts are made in the likeness of important figures in the history of the northeast (Padre Cícero and Luiz Gonzaga, among others). You can also find everyday objects such as pots, bowls and vases. You will find a huge variety of these arts, with a great selection to choose from. They are so beautiful and varied, you’re sure to find the perfect piece to take home!
Miniatures
Another type of enchanting handicraft you can find in Ceará, are the miniatures. With techniques that require not only immense skill, but also a lot of patience, these are the miniature boats skillfully placed inside bottles. The boat commonly made into these miniatures, is the beautiful sail boat known as the jangada, and they make the perfect decorative reminder of the beautiful beaches of Ceará. You can also find gorgeous landscapes designed with colored sands. Each piece can sometimes take days to be done, and their execution is precise and careful. A favorite with tourists, they are souvenirs to brighten up your house, or to give to loved ones when you get back home as a taste of Ceará!
These are some examples of the handicrafts that come straight from the local culture, and that are deeply important to the art and history of the northeast. Beauty expressed in fabrics, straw and sand. Simple materials that are at the same time so powerful, a metaphor of our Ceará.
Also read: Ceará: 6 places to learn more about its history and culture
