Talla de santos y mueble rústico de Yaguarón
A wood-carving tradition that looks to the Hispanic-Guaraní altar of the San Buenaventura church: saints, images and rustic furniture.
What it is
Yaguarón began as a Franciscan reduction with a Guaraní population, and its church keeps an altar and details carved by hand by Indigenous artisans in the style known as Hispanic-Guaraní. That heritage shows in today's carving of saint figures and in rustic wooden furniture, which the Paraguayan press lists among the town's representative crafts. It helps to look at the church's colonial pieces first to understand where the trade comes from, and then to look for today's carvers.
History
The district was founded in 1539 as a Franciscan reduction. The San Buenaventura church and its altarpiece are the great reference of local imagery; the present church was built between 1755 and 1772, according to the press, by Franciscans and Guaraní artisans.
Did you know…?
The patron-saint feast of San Buenaventura is held on 15 July, and a few steps from the church is the museum in the house of Dr. Francia, who was born in Yaguarón.
Where to buy
At the town's craft fairs (for example those set up beside the church on cultural dates) and at IPA fairs. Ask the municipality which workshops welcome visitors.