Cestería qom de Cerrito
Baskets, bags and seed necklaces made by women of the Qom community of Santa Rosa, on the Transchaco road.
What it is
In Cerrito, in the Benjamín Aceval district, the Qom community of Santa Rosa brings together about 27 women artisans who work with totora, karanda'y palm leaf and leucaena and lapacho seeds. They harvest only the leaves so the plant keeps growing, dry them for five or six days and weave in the early hours, before the heat makes them brittle. They make baskets, bags, hats, placemats and necklaces. Totora and palm basketry is now their main output; they once wove hammocks and bags too.
History
The Qom are the only Paraguayan people of the Guaycuru language family. In 2021 they opened the Casa de las Artesanas, built with karanda'y and river stone with support from Conamuri and the IPA, as a permanent fair to generate income for women.
Did you know…?
A medium basket takes more than half a day of work, and a large one can take more than a full day.
Where to buy
At the Casa de las Artesanas of the Santa Rosa community (Cerrito, Transchaco road, km 47), a permanent community fair, and at Instituto Paraguayo de Artesanía fairs. Arrange the visit with the community beforehand and pay the price they ask.