The vast majority of tourists who visit the Dominican Republic upon returning from their vacations carry a small souvenir or detail in their suitcases, either for themselves as a souvenir of a fantastic vacation or as a gift for their loved ones, family, friends or special people.
The main purpose of giving another person something typical of the place where one has spent a nice vacation is to tell them without words that we have remembered them even though they are in another place.
Undoubtedly, we have all given some souvenir of a trip we have made, but of course it must be said that we also love to receive them and that someone else is the one who remembers us.
One does not always know what souvenir to buy to give to another person: key chains, fridge magnets, postcards, jewelry, caps, T-shirts, miniature figurines, even a typical drink of the area, chocolate, among others.
Not to be forgotten are the famous Dominican cigars of international recognition, which in addition to giving them as a gift, it is advisable to make an excursion and observe how they are handcrafted.
Gastronomic souvenirs, the traditional handmade ones (coconut candies, guava, orange, pineapple…), are an excellent option when it comes to showcasing the flavors and culture of the country.
What is Dominican handicrafts?
In the Dominican Republic we find a diverse craftsmanship, where the creations are inspired by the surrounding resources, and the elaboration techniques are passed from generation to generation.
Dominican artisans have created an aesthetic popular art that reflects the history and diversity of the different cultures that have inhabited the country, allowing to know the customs and traditions in a noble way.
When the Europeans arrived on the continent, they encountered the Tainos, excellent artisans whose specialty was tools and objects inspired by mythology, rituals and daily life.
The handcrafted creations, which represent the beauty and talent of the Creole people, are made by making creative use of every resource available in the environment, such as guano, clay, cabuya, semi-precious stones, shells, recyclable materials, wood, etc.
It is important to keep in mind that all manual skills used in the production of products are passed on from parents to children and so on.
Dominican craftsmanship is characterized by the quality of its finishes, beauty and beauty in its forms, and cultural symbology that each piece reflects, attracting the gaze and expectation of collectors, tourists and nationals.
The recreation of canteens made of higüero (tropical tree) and sometimes of coconut with elaborate designs stands out.
In the colorful and colorful paintings that reflect the life of the people is where African and Caribbean influences are observed, as well as in small wooden objects such as guayacan mortars.
Tourists play an essential role in the development and improvement of the country’s economy, so as a vacationer you have a responsibility to show support for local artisans.
Materials used in Dominican handicrafts
In the Dominican Republic you will find countless souvenir stores where you will find a large number of handcrafted items to take home or give as gifts, mainly made of clay, wood, vegetable fibers, precious stones, seeds, paper, etc.
HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY: AMBER AND LARIMAR
Wearing a beautiful amber or larimar neck pendant is a wonderful way to carry a little piece of the Caribbean with you.
- Dominican amber, highly coveted in jewelry, is fossilized resin of vegetable origin from the extinct Hymenaea tree, and is catalogued as the richest and most coveted treasure in the world, to which healing and magical properties are attributed as it attracts good luck.
- Larimar, known as Dominican turquoise, is a blue precious stone extracted from mines in the province of Barahona, which due to its hardness and color is a perfect raw material for all jewelry work. Catalogued as an unknown and unique treasure in the world, it is said to instill peace, love and serenity.
In jewelry, the vast majority of Dominican designs integrate resins and semiprecious stones (amber and larimar) embedded in precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.
NATURAL FIBERS
- Vegetable fiber is one of the most traditional raw materials used in Creole handicrafts. Among the most typical guano articles are the “serones” (baskets), the “macutos” or travel bags and the saddles for pack animals called “aparejos”.
- The use of cabuya for hammocks and cordage is nowadays combined with the use of synthetic fibers.
- Fig trees are used in artistic carvings, openwork and painted, of figures, faces, containers, various ornaments and costume jewelry. It is also used to make the traditional painted and decorated maracas.
- In Barahona, many artisans weave baskets with banana leaves and make original dolls from the stump.
- While in Samaná, curtains and lampshades are made from the tirigüillo of the coconut, the city of Moca uses the jícara or shell of the fruit to make butterflies, winners of the award for artisanal excellence.
- They are also skilled in making summer handbags, ornaments, furniture, flower pots, wallets…
CLAY
Dominican dexterous hands make use of clay to mold jars, pots and jars.
Clay is also used to mold the famous dolls of working women with anonymous faces represented in long dresses wearing elegant hats or as vendors of water in jars, coffee, fruits, etc.
WOOD CARVINGS
Dominican handicrafts abound in wood carvings, whether large or small, decorative or religious, many of them inspired by the aboriginal and colonial past.
In the mountainous areas wood carvings of birds are typical. Its origin is due to the artisan Erasmo Puello who began making spoons for his wife who then sold them in the village to get some money, later he went on to make pigeons, parrots until reaching the famous colorful roosters awarded by Unesco.
STONE CARVINGS
Dominican artisans sculpt zoomorphic figures, chess pieces, dolls, baseballs, and other objects with sedimentary rock called sandstone and talc (white, blue and gray mineral) that give the appearance of petrified wood.
HANDICRAFTS WITH RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Many artisans use cans, bottles, old acetate discs, PVC tubes to make hats, belts, wallets, bracelets, handbags, dolls…
Carnival masks made of cardboard, crepe paper or paper mache stand out.
BAMBOO
Bamboo is a relatively new material in Dominican handicrafts and is increasingly used in the production of furniture.
As you can see, there are infinite options of handcrafted details to take to your loved ones as a souvenir of wonderful excursions in Punta Cana, made with different materials.
Whichever souvenir you buy, the other person is sure to love it and be very excited about it.
