Uruguay · Figurative wood sculpture combined with leather and wool textural elements
Talla en Madera Nacional con Cuero y Lana
Carved and finished objects in Uruguayan timbers (poplar, ash, marupá and cedar, chosen for the fine finish they take), combined with cowhide leather and virgin wool whose texture contrasts with the polished wood. Subjects come from rural life, tango, candombe and everyday national scenes. The best-known practitioner, Carlos Clavelli, has worked only in artisanal wood since 1983; his 'Majada Top' won first prize for production at the 2007 Premio Nacional de Artesanía and was chosen for Uruguay's wood-craft postage stamp (12 April 2011, series 'Artesanías del Uruguay — Madera'). His work has also won first prizes at Buenos Aires' Feria Internacional de Artesanías (ornamental wood) and the 10th National Salon of Creativity and Artisan Design (wood carving), and was shown at Argentina's Fiesta Nacional de la Artesanía in Colón, Entre Ríos.
Risk level: Vulnerable · Not Applicable — no UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage inscription exists for this craft at time of writing
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