2016-07-02 Sat

Peru’s central bank will be issuing 12 million sol coins celebrating the famous traditional Shipibo pottery which dates back to 800 A.D. This art style is native to the Shipibo-Conibo culture prevalent in the eastern jungle state of Ucayali. It’s known for the coloured geometric patterns resembling the skin of the anaconda. As per official reports, almost at over 31,000 Shipibo-Conibo people live in the Ucayali river basin and their famous art forms reflect the tribes of Amazon. They migrated to the provincial capital of Pucallpa in the 1990s.

The red, black and white coloured clay is mixed with ashes from the apacherama tree and the ground dust of old vessels. New parts are made out of rolls kneaded of this mixture. As per legends, the technique is similar to the move of cosmic anaconda, “Ronin,” which created the rivers and forests by coiling up along the ground.

First, complex geometric designs called “kene” are created and then it’s heated. The designs get highlighted from spots on the skin of the cosmic anaconda. Two Shipibo style thatched-roof huts are also featured on the coin.

This coin is the 26th of the 26-coin series called Wealth and Pride.