The word "pottery", from the Greek "kéramos", literally translates as "the art of working clay". The first ceramic artefacts appeared in the Neolithic period, more than 10,000 years ago: they were mainly tools used for cooking; then, with the rise of the Egyptian and Chinese civilisations, decorative objects began to be created. 

On the American continent in particular, the Valdivia culture was one of the oldest civilisations to have settled in the lands that today make up Ecuador. This culture has distinguished itself especially for being a pioneer in the use of ceramics in America, with pieces dating back to 2700 BC.  This is the origin of the Venus of Valdivia, as they were christened by the archaeological experts who found their remains: female figures that may have played a role in agricultural rituals and ceremonies to invoke rain. These sculptures, characterised by their upright posture, pronounced female attributes and vivid facial expressions, were individually modelled from a single block of clay. Their workmanship included meticulous detail and suggests a deep connection to the beliefs and daily life of Valdivia society.

Taking up the original traditions of the most ancient civilisations, the Amulets created by Taller Amaru come to life in these wood-fired kilns like the one in the photo, in the heat of the fire. These women, modelled in clay, are transformed into ceramics when they pass through the fire, thus acquiring the necessary hardness to be used and to accompany us wherever we go. In the kiln they also achieve a unique and particular texture and colour, which depend on the temperature reached and the clays used.

That is why they are all unique: each Amuleta is handmade, but they are also fired in an absolutely irreplicable way, as they have been for thousands of years.

Pics by Taller Amaru (www.instagram.com/taller.amaru)