Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts in Ceará are rooted in the pre-Colombian period and owe their origins to the indigenous inhabitants, who used materials such as clay and straw to make items of daily use. With colonisation and the coming of the Jesuits, arts and crafts were enriched by a greater diversity in materials and techniques. Ornaments, decorations, vestments, relics and jewels were produced by the work of artisans which still goes on today.

Until the 1960s, arts and crafts in Ceará involved around 650 thousand people. Economic and social changes had their repercussions on the industry, which eventually split into two categories: utilitarian (embroidery and articles in leather, wood and ceramics) and decorative (artistic and religious items). Out of all the various products, the lacework and embroidery are the most famous. Originally produced by Portuguese women, their main production centres are now Aracati, Paracuru, Cascavel and Fortaleza.