Ecuadorian artisans struggle to preserve centuries-old horsehair sieve-weaving craft
Only nine artisans remain in Guangopolo, Ecuador who practice the traditional craft of weaving horsehair sieves called cedazos, a skill that sustained 500 families just 50 years ago. The decline stems from cheaper plastic alternatives, difficulty sourcing materials like horsehair and native wood, and younger generations pursuing other professions. The loss threatens a 200-year-old tradition that once defined the village's cultural identity.
In the village of Guangopolo east of Ecuador's capital, a centuries-old craft of hand-weaving horsehair sieves is on the verge of extinction, with only nine artisans remaining—the youngest 51 years old. The cedazo, a traditional sieve crafted with a wooden rim and fine horsehair mesh, once provided income for around 500 Indigenous families who produced up to 600 units monthly. However, the emergence of cheaper plastic alternatives and industrial growth have reduced demand dramatically, with current production at only 10 sieves per week. Material sourcing has become increasingly difficult and expensive, as fewer horses are used in agriculture and native Pumamaqui tree wood is scarce; horsehair now costs approximately $1,000 per 100 pounds from distant sources in southern Colombia and central Ecuador. Efforts to train younger generations through workshops at the El Cedacero craft center have largely failed, as younger Ecuadorians pursue professional careers rather than traditional artisanal work. The potential loss of this 200-year-old tradition represents a significant threat to Guangopolo's cultural identity.
What different sources said
- ABC News InternationalCenter
Ecuadorian artisans working to preserve craft of weaving horsehair strainers
Related
Jackson Dean Contributes Tribute Song to Gregg Allman Documentary
Country star Jackson Dean has contributed a song titled "My Cross to Bear" to the documentary "Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul," which premiered in New York City on June 9, 2026. The film celebrates the life and legacy of the Allman Brothers Band founder and is being distributed by Subtext, an independent film production company. The documentary will expand to theaters nationwide on June 17 after premiering in Macon, Georgia and select cities.
MGK Describes Severe Health Issues During Large Blackout Tattoo Project
Musician MGK revealed in a Billboard Canada interview that he experienced significant health complications while getting a large blackout tattoo on his upper body, including swollen lymph nodes, yellowing skin, insomnia, and reduced mobility. The tattoo, created by artist ROXX and originally planned as a two-year project, was completed in approximately two months due to the severity of his symptoms. MGK stated he emerged from the experience inspired despite the physical toll.
Historian Gordon Wood, Pioneer of Revolutionary Era Scholarship, Dies at 92
Gordon Wood, a prominent historian who revolutionized the study of the American Revolution and Founding Fathers, has died at age 92, just weeks before the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Wood and his mentor Bernard Bailyn pioneered a scholarly approach that carefully examined primary sources like pamphlets and debates rather than imposing ideological frameworks onto history. His work represents the end of what scholars call a golden age in American Revolutionary historiography that began in the postwar decades.