Shipibo Amazon Jungle Ceramic Effigy Vessel

The Shipibo people live near the Ucayali River in areas of eastern Peru in the Amazon Basin. These natives are extremely talented, making distinctive pottery that is traditional for their lifestyle. Shipibo vases and bowls are handmade and decorated using natural earth pigments. Their geometric designs are representations of the visions of the Shipibo, making this type of pottery so unique and prized. After the creation of a Shipibo vase or other piece of pottery, they are decorated and then fired at low heat in open fires. After firing, the pieces are finished with a vegetable-based compound that makes them waterproof while creating a gorgeous sheen. The sides of the pottery are thin, making each piece amazingly lightweight. After the pieces have dried in the warm sun for several days, the clay goes through the firing process. The white base color is created from a clay slip whereas the red and black geometric designs come from the process of boiling bark. Resin obtained from tree sap gives Shipibo pottery its unique glaze.