Teofila Etching for Inca art Imports

Teofila

Teofila is the talented artist who skillfully etches most of our gourds. The whole family participates in the making of the wonderful Inca Art. Hand made Tool

Her husband, Juan Carlos, purchases the gourds from the growers in the northern deserts of Peru, making sure each gourd is the right size and has been dried just right. They bring the gourds back to Lima and let them dry for several more weeks

Teofila first engraves the gourds with her homemade tool. Then she passes the gourd to her son. He burns it in just the right places using a welding iron his father made for him. Then he passes the gourd to his father who uses a homemade blowtorch to finish. The burning of the gourd brings out the intricate drawing giving them color and life.

I like buying from Teofila. She might charge a little more than others, but she is passionate about her art, very friendly and always cheerful. They live in very poor surroundings and I am happy to help her small family business. The first time I bought from her, she cried she was so happy. Her husband had gone to the next province to buy more blank gourds. Back in Lima, rent was due and she didn't have enough money to pay the rent for their small one room apartment. I ended up buying many extras and spending too much money. Since then, I have always gone back to her and her family for all the gourds.