Inca Home Decor

43 items

The Village Council

Your answers straight from the village experts

+ - Is handblown glass eco-friendly?

Absolutely! Handblown glass offers a wonderful opportunity to recycle glass from discarded wine and beverage bottles and give them a unique new life born of fire. Artisans often acquire materials from bottle factories or local restaurants, which helps eliminate waste and potential environmental contamination. Their artistry creates something new, beautiful, and more valuable that can be used and appreciated for years to come.

+ - What should I look for when buying handblown cocktail glasses?

There are a few things to consider when buying handblown cocktail glasses. First, make sure they are well made and of good quality. When held up to the light, a quality piece of handblown glass will not show rough edges or cracks, will have a smooth finish on the bottom, and will not tip or wobble. Their size should be suited to your needs and they should feel stable. Additionally, you might consider if the glass design and style will be adaptable to your drink(s) of choice. Cheers!

+ - How are confetti handblown glass pitchers made?

Confetti glass pitchers are always 100% unique and the way they come to be is quite a process! Glass bottle pieces in the desired color are chosen, and then melted at 1500C into a molten ball. This crystalline ball is then dipped into a tray of colorful glass confetti, which adheres to the hot glass to create a unique design for each piece. The product is then blown and shaped by hand and a handle is added. This incredible process is magical to witness, and is demonstrated beautifully in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtxrtKd-Vao

+ - What are some distinguishing features of Mexican handblown glass?

Many would say that the interplay of clear glass with unique colors like cobalt blue or other vibrant hues is what distinguishes the art of Mexican handblown glass. It is also widely admired for its sturdiness, as it is heavier than typical glassware and has a more robust, rustic appeal when compared to handmade glass from other regions.Because each piece is handmade, shape and size can vary slightly and tiny bubbles may appear within the glass. This exemplifies the handblown technique, making every piece a unique example of blown glass craftsmanship.

+ - How do I care for handblown wine glasses?

Since all handblown glass items are sensitive to heat, they are not suitable for serving very hot liquids, and any abrupt exposure to extremely hot or cold temperatures might cause cracking. If you use the dishwasher, we recommend you place your blown glass items on the top rack, and allow them to cool completely after the drying cycle. Hand-washing is always best.

+ - What is Murano handblown glass?

Murano glass originated over a thousand years ago in Venice, Italy, the undisputed leader in glassmaking in medieval Europe. In 1291, the glassblowers of Venice were moved to the island of Murano as the glass must be heated to 1500C, making it a fire hazard on the mainland. Murano glass uses silica, soda, lime, and potassium and can feature gold or sterling silver leaf as well as a variety of minerals to achieve vibrant colors and designs. The molten glass is blown by mouth or handcrafted by master glassmakers in a series of elaborate steps and special techniques.Since 1994, Murano glass has held denomination of origin and is certified as having been crafted on Murano island. But Murano art also inspires master blown glass artisans in Brazil. The prestigious Seguso glass-crafting family first appeared in the islands census books in 1300. Mario Seguso moved to Brazil in 1954, and his family creates exquisite handblown glass using ancient Murano techniques. And Paulo Molinari was taught directly by Aldo Bonora, the first Italian master to arrive in Brazil from Murano Island. His family continues crafting handblown glass of extraordinary beauty. However, true Murano glass is crafted only in Murano, Italy.

+ - How durable is handblown glassware?

With proper care, handblown glassware can last for years. Since handmade glass is thicker and less fragile than industrialized glass, it tends to last longer. Artisans put their heart and soul into each piece, taking the time to assure the highest quality materials and production as well as a lasting product.

+ - Is handblown glass dishwasher safe?

We recommend washing your glassware by hand in warm water. However, most handblown glass can be washed in the dishwasher as long as it is placed on the top rack.

+ - How do I know if my glassware is made by hand?

There are a few things to look for when determining whether or not a particular glass piece is handmade.The first clue that a piece of glassware is handmade will be a small navel, or circular point at its base. This is where the glass was cut from the blowing tube, indicating that it is in fact handblown. Another indicator is the thickness of the glass, as handmade glass is thicker and stronger than industrialized glass. Tiny bubbles may appear inside the glass as a part of the crafting process. Finally, handblown glass is distinguished by the multitude of color varieties that can be used during its production. No two pieces are exactly the same, and the uniqueness of each individual piece is what makes handblown glass so special.

Featured Reviews

Wool tapestry, 'Origin and Fauna'

EDGUBI

Dec 7, 2023

The cats are creepy, but I love it regardless!

Eliazar Ochoa is one of half a dozen Peruvian artisans whose page I try to check every month or so for new work; I had a rug and another tapestry by him already. I love depictions of animals. especially when they are animals you don't commonly see depicted as with llamas and rheas, two distinctly South American animals (my other tapestry from him is all condors). And while purple is my favorite color, I do like orange as well, and I saw there was a bit of purple in this. This tapestry currently occupies pride of place, on the door to my office. Which means that at close range, I've realized the faces of the cats are kind of creepy. But I'm not really sure how you could do better on a loom, and I have also seen much worse cat faces! As I look at them more, I think I definitely prefer : | to a badly done : 3 (the most popular simplified cat face), and it makes a lot more sense on a loom as well!

Animal Themed Wall Decor

Wall Decor

Ceramic mask, 'Sun and Condor'

Maria A.

Jan 15, 2018

A beautiful piece has been added to my collection

Beautifully handcrafted. Warm earthy color is perfect and blends in with any collection. Simply gorgeous!

Masks

Leather and cedar wood jewelry box, 'Nazca Chamber'

Sherry

Oct 6, 2022

A truly exquisite petite jewelry box

The web site photo just does not do justice to this exceptional piece. It is a treasure within which I store some of my small jewelry treasures. I have several hand carved jewelry boxes. Although this one is the smallest, it is by far the most beautiful!

Cedar!

Leather Jewelry Boxes

Wood Jewelry Boxes

Inca Jewelry Boxes

Animal Themed Jewelry Boxes

Boxes

Featured Artist

Huaman Paucar Family Cuzco-style ceramics

(65)

"Our work is meticulous, and we put forth much effort in the finishing touches – that is the quality that identifies us."

The Huaman Paucar Family has been featured in the Daily Breeze newspaper, in Southern California."My wife and I hail from the capital of the Inca... read more