THE TRADITIONAL GOAN ARTISANS

NANDU - The Kumbar (potter) The age of usage of baked pottery gave importance to the work of potters. Whole villages of potters were usually assembled around the source of clay. The clay was shaped and moulded on the wheel which was spun manually, the clay product, wet but finished was dried and then baked in a kiln of firewood. Popular among these clay products were "Kunni" - round, wide mouth vessels, "Bhutkule" - pots, Mattulam - small, flat or deep bowls, "Koddem" - deep wide round vessels, also a lot of decorative and useful items were also made and graced every home.

DAKU - The Chamar (cobbler) Wooden clogs gradually made way for the lighter and longer lasting leather footwear. The cobbler sole craftsman of his trade with a sharp blade , needle, greases and slabs of leather fashioned footwear, made moulds and designed simple but wearable patterns for feet that had a lot of walking to do. The chamar used to go house to house repairing and taking measurement for new footwear or could be found a little distance away from the tinto plying his trade.

ANMARE - The Mahar (basket weaver) Using material like bamboo and cane and using only his hands the mahar, made a variety of products. Baskets, cages, "Konde" - covered high baskets for storage of grain and onion. Wider spaced baskets were woven to cover roosting hens and chicks. Small square, flat baskets to carry flowers were made and used mostly in hindu homes. A triangular open ended "Sup" was used for dusting the husk form rice. These were among the few, everyday items made and sold in bulk.

KASHANITA - The Barber The busiest trader, the barber usually sat under a tree or a makeshift shelter. Homemade oils for a relaxing massage, a sharp and shiny blade, a wooden or tortoise shell comb, a scissor and a small mirror which was usually held by the customer whilst the barber snipped and shaved away. He also went over to the houses to perform the task and this usually was at the more affuent homes.

INAS - The Carpenter If the mason began the house's foundation, then it was the carpenter, who after the house was up, placed the final touches to a home. All of Goa's stately homes bore the imprint of hand-crafted furniture that buffed to a sheen, till date are priceless.

ZOVOINTO - The Bangle seller He was a roaming trader who vistied the houses when the ladies were free from their chores. Each color in the bangle depicts a certain reason for being worn. a multicoloured set was worn by the bride-to-be to appease teh ancestral souls. Red was worn by the bride after the wedding. Green was the color of fertility adn black was worn by the widow.

Other traditional Goan artisans include Shetty (goldsmith), Zo (idol makers who sculpt statues of wood and ivory). Chari (blacksmith), Chittari (Lacquer work artisan), Kansar who makes brass lamps and copper vessels.

H O M E Ancestral Goa, Loutolim, Goa, India. phone: 91 - 832 - 777034, 750430 fax : 91 - 832 - 750401

web site designed and created by: L Y N N   B A R R E T O   M I R A N D A BM Web Studio.    Margao, Goa, India.