pattern rings

Walter Jose Acosta depicts a high-ranking woman of the Nazca culture of ancient Peru. Her robes reveal intricate geometric motifs, expertly handwoven by these pre-Inca people. Even more complex patterns border her finely-woven head covering, and she decorates her face with precise red dots. Crafted of terracotta, the image is masterfully painted by hand.

The iconography of the Incas serves as the foundation for the design of this pair of ceramic pendant necklaces from Peruvian artisan Dina. Against a vivid red background, symbols and shapes in black and gold recall the geometric patterns of Incan art. Each ring-shaped pendant features a bead in these same shades. The medallions are painted by hand and hang from black nylon cord.

With traditional motifs that echo the shapes of the Andes mountains, this 100% alpaca shoulder bag is a standout. The artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco craft it entirely from scratch--raising the alpacas and llamas to obtain the fleece; shearing, dyeing and spinning the wool; and weaving the textile on a traditional waist loom. The fully-lined bag closes with a zipper and features an interior zipper pocket.

Made entirely by hand, this beautiful contemporary bag showcases the ancestral weaving traditions preserved by the women artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. The compact purse exemplifies the incredible time and dedication it takes to produce a handmade work of art. In the highlands they call home, before they can begin to weave the fabric for the bag, the women must first raise and shear the alpacas and llamas to obtain the wool, then dye and spin the fleece before it is ready to be woven into fabric on a traditional backstrap loom. From start to finish, the time taken to produce each bag spans the seasons. The fully-lined bag closes with a zipper and features an interior zipper pocket.