Peruvian arts and crafts reflect a diverse culture that is rich in tradition and influenced by both generations of indigenous people as well as the foreign forces that have settled there in centuries past. While Ayacucho is rich in many different art forms, perhaps it is best known for its stone carving.
Carving stone by hand is a tradition in Peru that dates back thousands of years. The country has a plethora of natural minerals including: granite, basalt, andesite, lake pebbles and a special white alabaster known as Piedra de Huamanga, which can be found in abundance in the mountains surrounding Ayacucho. Although it sounds Spanish, Huamanga is the Incan word from the Quechua language for Alabaster
Carving of Huamanga was popularized in the colonial times because of its resemblance to marble and porcelain, both which were not available in Peru. The soft consistency of the stone permits it to be easily carved, but to its detriment it is also brittle and care must be taken during the carving process or the entire piece can be easily destroyed.
White, rose, and gray Huamanga is mined from quarries in nearby Cangallo. Blocks of stone are first sawn and carved with hand chisels, burins, drills, and other appropriate tools. Later the pieces are detailed and sanded to enhance the beauty of its natural finish.
The early motifs mostly depicted the infant Jesus and other religious imageries such as saints, crosses, and the Virgin Mary. Today, Huamanga stone is widely seen in nativities and scenes that depict the local culture.
