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“My name is Braulio Masis Solano, and I am a creative, intelligent and kind person. I was born to a... read more

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Braulio Masis

Braulio Masis

“My name is Braulio Masis Solano, and I am a creative, intelligent and kind person. I was born to a large family in San José, Costa Rica in 1967. We were 8 siblings and we lived through difficult times due to the economic situation, but my parents gave us all an education.

“Since I was little, I lived in a wooden house with others on a ranch in a small town. It was a very mountainous place without electricity and dirt streets. I lived with my parents, and due to our economic situation they sent me to study in the capital at a vocational school. From there I began to like wood and everything that can be made with it. As a child, I played with pieces of wood, and over time I learned to make figures and toys out of wood. I remember that the first thing I made was a tractor with a piece of wood and the wheels were bottle caps. I gave the first work to my mother. Then, as a teenager, I learned to make furniture until I perfected the gift.

“Ive been in my own business for 30 years. I like wood, its texture and its smell. I was trained in art from a very young age and took workshops to perfect the techniques. I use recycled wood, as a way to help the environment. I also use chisels, gouges, blades, sanding discs, saws, etc. I classify the wood by size and color, and then I mark the piece that I am going to cut. I rough out the excess, and then with sandpaper and gouges I shape the piece. Then I fine-tune to give the final finish on each of the different types of pieces that I make.

“I am inspired by Costa Rica; my products are related to my beautiful country, and I like that by acquiring them you can have a little bit of Costa Rica in each one of them.”

Central America Artisan Empowerment Hu

Explore Central America. Rich rainforests and active volcanoes shelter the vestiges of the Mayan civilization that lives on in the languages and the arts of Central America. You'll discover the weaving traditions recorded on the backstrap looms, the glyphs and geometry that define the jewelry and pottery, and the vibrantly-painted folk art statues and masks among all the unique, handcrafted artisan treasures in our Central America Collection.

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