Description
Argentina es un país con una gran tradición del trabajo artesanal en cuero. Podemos hablar de tradiciones indígenas y otras campesinas a lo largo y ancho del país. Entre las últimas está el trabajo de cuero crudo entramado, que es parte de la identidad del gaucho y de la cultura ecuestre.
Con respecto a las técnicas tradicionales indígenas del cuero, una de las más importantes es la quillanguería patagónica. Se trata del trabajo de procesamiento artesanal del cuero de diferentes animales que realizan las comunidades Tehuelche. El procedimiento incluye raspado, curtido, sobado y lavado, maceración, estaqueado, costura de los tientos y decoración.[1][2]One of the most representative Tehuelche pieces is the kai cape made with guanaco leather (Lama guanicoe). The master craftsman of Gobernador Gregores, Adela Yatel, managed to transmit knowledge to the community before her death in 2017.
Other important techniques of the indigenous communities are the rawhide work and the rope work of the Mapuche, Huarpe and Kolla artisans and horsemen, all testimony to the roots of equestrian culture in the indigenous communities. Gaucho and Creole leather craftsmanship achieves high quality standards in the country and new generations of artisans who stand out in the trade. The sogueros or guasqueros make multiple objects for use in rural areas. These leather objects are preferably made in humid weather or by causing the leather slices to become flexible.
From the markets, fine tientos are obtained that are woven to create braids, buttons, loops, pins, knots and other resources for the production of multiple objects (Flores, 1960). The braiding operates as expressive resources that go beyond the functional nature of the pieces. The most popular production of braids is that of knife ropes. There are schools, workshops and master craftsmen throughout the country that transmit these techniques. Among the most prestigious was Martín Gómez, from Ranchos, Province of Buenos Aires, who was declared First Master Craftsman[3]of your province and Living Heritage of your city. Likewise, its production space, the workshop, was declared a local heritage site. Martín Gómez passed away in 2017, but his legacy continues in his son Néstor.
Another example of a town in which rawhide rope for equestrian use is representative is Villa Elisa, Entre Ríos. In that city there is a concentration of raw leather products such as knives and whips with leather handles, parts of the undertaker or horse saddle, with the master rope maker Mario Fabre being recognized among his peers.[4].
In Viale, another town in the same province, the same thing happens with the master craftsman Paulo Romero[5], an outstanding weaver of Creole knife handles, whose activity is strongly linked to the gastronomic culture of barbecue. On the other hand, the family transmission of the roper, braider and lacero specialties is important in the rural areas of the department of Loreto.[6]and Ojo de Agua, in the province of Santiago del Estero. These crafts are considered work and supply a great regional demand.[1]Integrates the Survey of manifestations of intangible cultural heritage in Argentina published by theNational Directorate of Cultural Assets and Sitesof the Ministry of Culture of the Nation.[2]Cultural Heritage of Santa Cruz.[3]Law 12,456 declares of Provincial Interest the artisanal activity developed by Buenos Aires artisans as producers of elements of cultural significance and the preservation, promotion, dissemination and development of Buenos Aires crafts and establishes the figure of the Master Artisan as a distinction to the work and career of those artisans who have stood out for their craftsmanship and for having fulfilled the mission of contributing to the validity of Buenos Aires traditions, through the dissemination and transmission of techniques or skills that form part of the provincial cultural heritage.[4]Integrates the Survey of manifestations of intangible cultural heritage in Argentina published by theNational Directorate of Cultural Assets and Sitesof the Ministry of Culture of the Nation.[5]Paulo Romero obtained the Recognition for the Quality of the Artisanal Product of the Southern Cone granted by the World Crafts Council with the sponsorship of UNESCO.[6]Integrates the Survey of manifestations of intangible cultural heritage in Argentina published by theNational Directorate of Cultural Assets and Sitesof the Ministry of Culture of the Nation. He was relieved by the
Undersecretary of Culture of the Province of Santiago del Estero.
english
Leather productsArgentina boasts a rich tradition of leather craftsmanship, encompassing indigenous and other peasant traditions across the entire country. Within the latter category, the intricate art of weaving rawhide leather is integral to the identity of the gaucho and the equestrian culture.
One of the most crucial traditional indigenous leather techniques is Patagonianquilangueria, which involves the artisanal processing of leather from various animals by Tehuelche communities. The procedure encompasses scraping, tanning, soaking and washing, maceration, tinning, stitching, and decorating. A prime example of Tehuelche craftsmanship is thekaicape made from guanaco (Lama guanicoe) leather. Adela Yatel, a master craftswoman from Gobernador Gregores, successfully imparted her knowledge to the community before her passing in 2017.
Several significant techniques employed by Indigenous communities include rawhide work andrope(rope work) by Huarpe, Kolla, Mapuche artisans, and horsemen, serving as a testament to the deep-rooted connection between equestrian culture and these communities. The gaucho and Creole leather craftsmanship in the country attains high-quality standards, with emerging generations of artisans excelling in the trade.ropes(rope artisans) orguasqueros(raw-leather artisans) craft numerous objects used in rural areas. These leather items are preferably created in humid climates to ensure the flexibility of the leather strips.
Thin strips of leather are skillfully woven into braids, buttons, loops, pins, knots, and other components, serving as essential resources for crafting various objects (Flores, 1960). Beyond their functional purpose, these braids also serve as expressive elements. One of the most renowned applications of this technique is in the production of knife handles. Throughout the country, there are schools, workshops, and master craftsmen dedicated to passing on these intricate techniques. Among the esteemed artisans is Martin Gomez, hailing from Ranchos in the Province of Buenos Aires, who was honored as the First Master Craftsman of his province and recognized as Living Heritage of his city. His workshop, a space of prolific production, has been designated as a local heritage site. Although Martin Gomez passed away in 2017, his legacy lives on through his son Nestor.
Villa Elisa, Entre Rios, is another example of a locality where rawhide rope work for equestrian use is representative. In this city, there is a concentrated offer of rawhide products such as knives and whips with leather handles, parts of horse saddles or saddles, and Mario Fabre is well known among his peers as the master of rope work.
In Viale, another town within the same province, Paulo Romero stands out as a master craftsman and an outstanding weaver of handles for Creole knives. His expertise is closely tied to the gastronomic culture of theroast(barbecue). Conversely, the familial transmission of skills in rope work, braiding, and lasso handling (bylaceros) holds significant importance in the rural areas of the departments of Loreto and Ojo de Agua, located in the province of Santiago del Estero. These crafts are recognized as labor-intensive arts and play a crucial role in meeting substantial regional demand.
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