File number: cbd0037

© South American Pictures/ Tony Morrison

Colombia.    An owl design in Pasto lacquer or Barniz de Pasto on a turned wooden pot. The source material is an exudate from the seeds of the Mopa Mopa tree, Elaeagia pastoensis a relative of the coffee and quinine bushes Family Rubiacea. The exudate is concentrated by using alcohol and then coloured before being applied. The designs are made by cutting away unused areas of colour.