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Puma Family

The birthplace and capital city of the Inca Empire is a popular center where fine arts are kept alive through successive generations of families and communities. Such is the case of the Puma family, intent on cultivating and promoting the ceramic technique and styles of their communities while enriching this inheritance with their own original abilities, ingenuity, and creativity.

"As a family, we have learned the crafting of ceramics from our parents, grandparents, and from the community. We are solely dedicated to this art with the purpose of re-valuing our ancestral culture while searching to improve the quality of the technique we use. We therefore refer to our products as fine ceramics, molding replicas from coastal cultures and from the Peruvian Andes (such as Nazca, Moche and Tiahuanaco). When we prepare the ceramic pieces, we reinforce the clay with certain elements in order to give it more consistency and resistance when firing at high temperatures of 1105° C (2021° F).

"We hand-shape the pieces and the crafting of each piece usually takes approximately one to two and a half days.

"My creativity and effort have merited recognition, achieving Honorable Mentions in the Inkari I-II and the Best Exhibition Ceramist in Cuzco in 1975. I have also exhibited in various cities in Peru - especially Cuzco, Arequipa, and Lima.

"I hope that through Novica my ceramics will become known by more people and countries, transmitting the cultural value they hold."

The crafting activity of the Puma family, with their art and skills, showcases the valuable role played by the ceramics in our ancient civilizations, capturing important people, customs, and beliefs.