Potosí Silver: The Craft of the World's Silver Capital
The silversmithing tradition of Potosí — rooted in the colonial era when the city processed the world's greatest silver supply — continues in the filigree workshops of the city centre; the delicate silver thread work is one of Bolivia's finest craft traditions
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Filigree Silverwork
Potosí filigree—the technique of twisting fine silver thread into intricate lace-like patterns—was brought to the Americas by Spanish and Moorish artisans and then developed by indigenous and mestizo artisans into a distinct local style; The complexity of the technique (a single earring can take days to complete) makes Potosí filigree among Bolivia's most prized handicrafts
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Colonial Silver tradition
The Spanish colonial mint in Potosí employed hundreds of skilled silversmiths, assayers and punchers; the coin production system required extraordinary metallurgical skill; the tradition of working with silver established by this workforce has remained with Potosí's artisans for 500 years
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Silver Altarpieces
The colonial churches of Potosí and Sucre have some of the finest silver altarpieces in the world – silver panels that cover the entire church interior, silver candlesticks meters high and silver images of saints all testify to the extraordinary wealth available for religious expression during the silver boom; the craftsmanship is remarkable
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Crafts workshop visit
The silversmiths' workshops near the Mercado Artesanal in Potosí's historic center welcome visitors; watching an artisan work the silver thread into filigree patterns, explaining the techniques and designs, is one of the most rewarding artisan experiences in Bolivia; the piece can be purchased directly from the workshop
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colonial coins
Potosí produced the famous "pieces of eight" - the silver reals that were the dominant global currency for 200 years; the coins circulated from China (where they were melted down for silver) to Europe to America; The Casa de la Moneda museum displays the original minting machinery and examples of the colonial mint
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Contemporary Silver Jewelry
Contemporary Potosí silversmiths produce jewelry that mixes the colonial filigree tradition with Andean motifs (chacana crosses, condors, Andean flora); the combination of centuries-old technology with modern design has created a distinctive Bolivian jewelry aesthetic that is recognized internationally