Craftworks
- Handicraft
The best known handycraft, which survives as a witness to an industry that flourished in Cape Verde in the first centuries of colonisation, is the pano d’obra, now better known as pano de terra (woven cloth) (see highlight). It is produced on manual looms in long narrow strips, and it is currently used as decoration for clothes, bags and other artifacts, but in the past it played an important role, not just in local clothing, but also in the external trade of Cape Verde.
In Santiago, as well as pano de terra, there is production of utilitarian and decorative pottery, decorative pieces made of coconut, bags made of sisal, wickerwork (baskets), and liqueurs.
In S. Vicente, there is production of stringed instruments (guitars, ukuleles, fiddles and violins), tapestries and jewellery made of coral and shells, objects made of stone, pieces made of glazed clay.
Santo Antão is famous for its liqueurs and grogue, produced in trapiches, or pontche, and basketwork.
In Boa Vista the enormous straw hats and the baskets made of palm leaves, along with utilitarian and dec orative pottery, are the principal craft products.
In Fogo, which is linked to the volcano, decorative pieces are sculpted in the porous rock of lava, and a wine is produced that comes from the lava itself, manecom, as well as fruit liqueurs and jams (apple, quince…) also grown on the lava, or goat cheese.
Brava is the island of embroidery.
Unfortunately, Cape Verdean craftwork has not yet been organised in order for buyers to be sure that they are not getting souvenirs made in Senegal or other countries of the continent, which are very active in production and trade in Cape Verde.
The best known handycraft, which survives as a witness to an industry that flourished in Cape Verde in the first centuries of colonisation, is the pano d’obra, now better known as pano de terra (woven cloth) (see highlight). It is produced on manual looms in long narrow strips, and it is currently used as decoration for clothes, bags and other artifacts, but in the past it played an important role, not just in local clothing, but also in the external trade of Cape Verde.
In Santiago, as well as pano de terra, there is production of utilitarian and decorative pottery, decorative pieces made of coconut, bags made of sisal, wickerwork (baskets), and liqueurs.
In S. Vicente, there is production of stringed instruments (guitars, ukuleles, fiddles and violins), tapestries and jewellery made of coral and shells, objects made of stone, pieces made of glazed clay.
Santo Antão is famous for its liqueurs and grogue, produced in trapiches, or pontche, and basketwork.
In Boa Vista the enormous straw hats and the baskets made of palm leaves, along with utilitarian and dec orative pottery, are the principal craft products.
In Fogo, which is linked to the volcano, decorative pieces are sculpted in the porous rock of lava, and a wine is produced that comes from the lava itself, manecom, as well as fruit liqueurs and jams (apple, quince…) also grown on the lava, or goat cheese.
Brava is the island of embroidery.
Unfortunately, Cape Verdean craftwork has not yet been organised in order for buyers to be sure that they are not getting souvenirs made in Senegal or other countries of the continent, which are very active in production and trade in Cape Verde.
