Colombia · Bovine horn and coconut shell carving
Cachería / Talla en Cacho y Coco
The boiling, softening, pressing, and cutting of cow horn, and the drying, cutting, and shaping of coconut shell, into polished decorative and household objects, practiced by named artisan Edio Miguel Barrios in Cartagena. Barrios, who has not spent a single day away from the trade since age ten, founded the workshop Artesanías Edwin — named for his eldest son — more than twenty years ago, and now employs four fellow artisans producing pieces in cow horn, coconut, and mother-of-pearl shell alike. He personally travels to municipalities surrounding Cartagena to purchase raw cow horn in bulk sacks of sixty from local traders, enough to sustain a full month of production, and has, at age 46, taught the technique to dozens of young people and elders who arrive at his workshop wanting to learn.
Risk level: Vulnerable · Not Applicable — no UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage inscription exists for this craft at time of writing
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