São Paulo – Thirteen pieces of Brazilian handicraft from nine different states have been selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) for the third edition of the Seal of Excellence. The event presents innovative handicraft from the Mercosur countries, and this edition will focus on the 50th anniversary of the World Crafts Council in Latin America, in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo, from July 30th to August 2nd.
The UNESCO Recognition of Excellence for MERCOSUR Handicraft Products gives an assessment of product quality and authenticity. The initiative favours products which bet on preserving and sustaining cultural tradition, and encourages artisans to create innovative items with domestically-oriented design and themes.
The Brazilian selection involved 62 items. The winners were Rodney Paiva Ramos, from the state of Acre, with two necklaces, ‘Trança da Mata’ and ‘Cores da Mata,’ Wedney Sherry Oliveira Barros, from Alagoas, with table runner ‘Bordado Filé,’ Aguilardo de Souza Teixeira, from Bahia, with costume jewellery piece ‘Penca de Balangandã,’ José dos Santos Braga, also Bahia, with jewel box ‘Porta Jóias,’ and Cesar Weslley Conti Nunes, from Espírito Santo, with table runner ‘Fibra de Taboa.’
Cesar Weslley was selected for his wallet ‘Fibra de Taboa,’ Nicodemos Miranda, from Goiás, with the piece ‘Santa Inanimada,’ Hercílica Batista Herculado, from Minas Gerais, with ‘Palma Barroca,’ Darlindo José de Oliveira Pinto, from Pará, with ‘Búfalo Montado,’ Vera Junqueira, from Rio Grande do Sul, with ‘Cesto Tupi,’ José Carlos Neutzling, Flávia Coelho de Souza and João Gustavo Uberbach, all from Rio Grande do Sul, with the chessboard ‘Bichos do Mar de Dentro,’ and Sandra Márcia Marques, from São Paulo, with ‘Colares de Fitas.’
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
