Tagua hand carved turtle
Flora and Fauna

Vegetable Ivory – Tagua #AtoZChallenge

Thinking in generations also means enabling our young to have a decent standard of living. 
— Paul Tsongas

 

Tagua, sometimes called vegetable ivory for it’s resemblance to elephant ivory, is a nut from the Tagua palm tree. The hard white inner nut can be carved and polished like ivory.
Tagua carved turtle
Artists carve it into jewelry, figurines, and many other products. My friend Marianne Fry in Puerto Lopez has been designing and exporting hand-carved Tagua products for 18 years through her company, Feel Good Exports.

Each piece is hand crafted by artisans living in remote areas. These products afford families an opportunity to make a decent life for themselves who could otherwise be living off the land or separated. Without this Tagua work, one parent may move to a different town or country to earn money.

Hand carved tagua
Hand-Carved Tagua Figurines
Baúl de Tesoros, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador

 

Necklaces and purses
Hand-Carved Tagua Jewelry
Baúl de Tesoros, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador

Marianne and her husband, Abdullah, own the Baúl de Tesoros (Treasure Chest) gallery in Puerto Lopez. They feature Tagua as well as products from artists throughout Ecuador.

Wall hangings and purses
Wall hangings and purses made in Ecuador
Baúl de Tesoros, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador

 

Metal figurines
Metal figurines made in Ecuador
Baúl de Tesoros, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador

Is there an export from your area that is relatively unknown?

2017 A to Z Challenge - V

If you are visiting from the #AtoZChallenge please include your blog link in a comment so I can check it out.

I am a US Expat in Ecuador. I grew up on a Minnesota farm, worked in IT in California's Silicon Valley, then moved to a coastal Ecuador fishing village. My goal is to share Ecuador with you, one snippet at a time. Topics include attractions, compassion, ecotourism, Ecuador products, everyday Ecuador, and flora and fauna. Please let me know what you would like to read more about!

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