Ceramic candleholder, 'Andean Mermaid with Guitar'

Product Review

NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, offers thousands of limited edition and one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, and home decor treasures handmade by master artists and artisans throughout the world. Beautiful and ethereal, an Andean mermaid charms with traditional tunes. Alberto Aparicio Canchari conjures an original character, which he sculpts into a candleholder in the ceramic tradition of Ayacucho. Artisan Info: Alberto Aparicio Canchari was born in Ayacucho in 1965. A dedicated ceramist, he is inspired by the customs and beliefs of Andean villages. His workshop seems inhabited by half-finished creatures, waiting for him to give them the breath of life. "I've been a ceramist since I was a child, as my parents taught me the craft. Later, I tried to develop my own pieces with a personal style. My main purpose is giving life to my creations, and I've achieved this through the expressions of their faces, aiming to reflect daily attitudes, Peruvian country scenes, even protests - and I'm satisfied and content. In the workshop I work full-time with my wife. "Most of our pieces are hand-molded, as only the weight of the hand can give the right shape. We use clay and simple tools; paints and pigments are blended together to produce the required hues, like that of the skin. All are made to resist high temperatures. The process starts from when we mold the pieces, then we paint them, fire them, and at the end, just polish them. "I've participated in several fairs and exhibitions,