Guatemala · Leather goods making
Cuero Trabajado a Mano
The hand-crafting of custom leather goods — bags, belts, shoes, backpacks, wallets, and knife holders — at Lake Atitlán, centered on La Cueva Leather in San Juan La Laguna, run by self-taught leather craftsman Nicolas Pop. Pop, born and raised in San Juan La Laguna, traces his interest in the craft to childhood hunting trips with his grandfather in the mountains surrounding the lake, where seeing different animal hides first suggested to him the range of objects that could be made from them; he has worked the craft commercially for over 15 years, and his workshop now also hosts hands-on public workshops introducing visitors to hand leatherworking technique.
Risk level: Vulnerable · Not Applicable — no UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage inscription exists for this craft at time of writing
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