In the province of Santiago del Estero we can come across excellent crafstmen who use different materials to make real works of art. Weaving, crafts in leather, basketmaking,pottery, silversmith, and the making of "bombos", -a very special kind of drums- and other musical instruments, among many others, stand out all over the vast territory of the province.
Weaving is the most highly developed of the handmade crafts of this province and the one that has started earlier. The drawings mainly follow the themes of the weavers of the peoples that lived in America, and especially in what is called now Santiago del Estero, before Columbus s arrival. The main raw materials are sheep wool and cotton thread,- which they spin and dye by themselves-, and there are many a time when combinations of both are used. The most frequent pieces are "the baetones"-quilts made of splendidly coloured pure wool,"ponchos", carpets of cut hair, saddlebags, jerguillas and woven cloths. To make their fabrics, weavers use special looms which they themselves build with carefully selected pieces of wood. These looms are true works of art in themselves.
In the country, we can still find very sfillful saddlers and harness makers who are famous all over the world and stand out in the making of "lazos"- special lariats for catching horses and other animals-, whips, "boleadoras"-lariat with balls on one end thrown to twist around an animals legs- , whips and other devices for the task of the country daily life, such as saddles, spurs, hoops, "guardamontes", halters for colts and reins. It must be remarked that Santiago lazos are much appreciated all over the world. In the mountains of Guasayán, Ambargasta and Sumampa there are many craftmen who use very rustic tools to work the weatherbeaten leather, leather without hardening, leather with hair and without it.. They use wood of carob and of wild teasel to complete some of the manufactured pieces.
Many families of the districts of Rio Hondo,Jimenez and Ojo de Agua earn their living by making baskets that will be mainly used for decoration. The most important commercial center is the town of Las Termas de Rio Hondo, famous for its hot springs. Since many tourists come here in winter, these crafts are known all over the country. The pieces that buyers prefer are big baskets for clothes (called drum baskets ), thermos cases, "yerberos"-vessels for serving "mate"-, sewing cases, posaplatos, posavasos, shoppingbags, trays. sources. All these are made of"paja brava", corn husk, "unquillo" and palm heart, especially. The pieces made out of hollow cane, palm fabric, reed mace and "chaguar" are much appreciated, as well.
In our county even the aborigines had already used wood to make their utensils and work tools: plates, spindles and whorls, oars, canoes, lances, arches and tablespoons. Nowadays, especially in small towns and in the country, it is still common to use wood for the furniture, tools and house building.The wood of quebracho bark, mainly the "red" variety, is considered the best one for houses. Althoguh at present almost nobody carves wood to make religious images, as it was usual in the last centuries, many important works of art are still kept in the main churches and museums of the province..
If we are to believe the archaelogical remains, pottery is the craft that was practised in the whole territory of the province. The material preferred by potters is the red loamy earth. Since this craft, as many others in Santiago del Estero, is transmitted from generation to generation, from parents to children, there are, even at present, potters who use techniques that have been used for four hundred years. and who mainly make utilitarian pieces.
The "Bombo leguero" - so called because it is said it can be heard at great distance- made in Santiago del Estero is the most popular and famous in the whole country. This bass drum is used to accompany folkloric songs and dances. The drum is made out of wood of ceibo, hackberry or white quebracho bark and patches of goat, sheep or viscacha leather. You play this drum with two sticks, one of them with one end wrapped in leather to muffle the sound a bit. Youcan tune the drum by tightening the patches.
Silversmith is a craft that seems about to disappear in our province. .Silverers follow traditional techniques to make pieces at clients' request, mostly. Generally they ask for tableware, such as jugs, "bombillas" and "mates". Formerly, these artesans used to make many other types of pieces, such as belts and other dress accesories, and trails, whips, spurs, parts of saddles, ends of knives, reins, bridles, etc. Nowadays, religious clients generally request silver images used as pious offerings.