Meet the Artisans of Masaya, Nicaragua

Masaya is Nicaragua’s third largest city. Nestled between Granada and Managua, Masaya is known for its year-round festivals and is renowned for its artisanal market and workshops. At Pacaya Lodge & Spa, we are fortunate to work with five artisanal businesses based in Masaya.

These local artisans designed all of the lodge’s beds, desks, counters, cabinets, lamps, tables, and more. Get to know them here!

Top Muebles

The story of Top Muebles begins in 1980, with the “sister cities” partnership between Masaya, Nicaragua, and Dietzenbach, Germany. At the time of the partnership, Nicaragua was in the middle of a bloody revolution. Many Nicaraguans were forced out of their homes and onto the streets.

In an effort to assist their sister city, citizens of Dietzenbach launched a project to help Nicaraguan orphans and youth recover from the effects of the war. To do this, the German group trained the young Nicaraguans to work with wood, and in particular, how to make cabinets. By 1987, the Nicaraguan group was able to stand on their own and formed a cooperative. There, they continued the tradition of training disadvantaged youth in the art of woodworking. The co-op was a success, and from there, Top Muebles expanded their line to include furniture.

Rafael López started with the program in 1980 as an 11-year old. Today, he runs the operation. His professionalism and organizational skills set the tone for the business, and his industry smarts have allowed Top Muebles to tackle larger clients like Pacaya Lodge & Spa. Top Muebles’ 23 employees designed and produced Pacaya Lodge & Spa’s beds, desks, counters, and cabinets. These beautiful pieces have been praised for their quality and the simplicity of their designs. Their work evokes feelings of elegant artisanal craftsmanship. We are proud to work with this wonderful group of artisans.

 

Silvio Namoyure

Silvio began his artisanal career at a young age. He used to help his mother and father weave laundry baskets out of caña castilla, a short plant that yields long thin fibers. Silvio went to school in Catarina to further his craft and also served two years in the Military before returning to his family basket-weaving business in Monimbó, a famous neighborhood in Masaya. 

Silvio now works strictly with bamboo and has created over 50 designs for decorative items, lamps, and baskets. Silvio keeps busy and makes products for weddings and events throughout the year. He is renowned for his outstanding baskets, which we use at Pacaya Lodge & Spa to deliver your breakfast every morning.

Seeing the smile on the face of a satisfied customer is what Silvio loves the most about this business. Like so many of the artisans we work with, Silvio wants to start a training center as soon as possible. In addition to running his business, Silvio trains disabled students to work with bamboo. We are honored to work with this excellent artist and human being. Keep an eye out for his beautiful bamboo lamps throughout the lodge.

 

Hermanos Contreras

Juan Carlos and Jairo Mauricio Contreras, master furniture makers, opened their own business in 2006 just outside of Masaya. Theses brothers have fine-tuned every part of the furniture making business including sanding, painting, and carpentry. They use hardwoods to construct the beautiful lamps, beds, and the extremely sturdy tables that they are known for.

Like most Nicaraguan artisans, their workshop is located behind their home, making it easy for them to pass along their knowledge to their sons and neighbors. Currently, they are especially motivated by growth and are learning to export. They plan on opening a retail store in Managua soon. Grab a Toña and pull up a seat at the Lodge’s bar to feel the elegance and comfort of a Hermanos Contreras barstool.

 

 

Hamacas Vicente Suazo

Wilfredo Suazo and his wife Ana Julia have been cornerstones of Masaya
artisanry for many years. Wilfredo’s father started his hammock business in back in 1950. Wilfredo learned how to make hammocks alongside his father. Although he went off to school to study geography, Wilfredo knew his true calling was at home with his family hammock business. He noticed a lack of quality in other hammock makers and wanted to show them the way and even sold a hammock to Roberto Clemente, a famous baseball player, along the way. 

His business survived the war years of the 1980s and has prospered since then, capitalizing on a wider range of primary materials, colored fabric, and exporting knowledge. As he moves forward, Wilfredo wants to teach younger artisans to focus on the business side of things, not just artisanry. He thinks it is important to teach marketing, professionalism, and computer skills in addition to the craft. Stop by Wilfredo and Ana’s shop in downtown Masaya to see the speed at which these artisans weave together their immaculate hammocks. Have a swing in them at the Pacaya Lodge and Spa, and you’ll be glad you did.

 

Artesanías Kandy

Carlos Flores first learned the art of carpentry and woodworking from his father when he was only 7 years old. From there, he learned to work with several different species of wood and expanded his business. 

Seven years ago, he entered into a national contest, the “Concurso de Artesanía al Nivel Nacional,” and won it two years in a row. Earning the national title boosted his sales, and he now works mainly with private home owners on custom projects. Carlos says Artisanías Kandy begins each piece with a general plan, but they let the shape and the shades of the wood provide inspiration and direction. Carlos says that “la madera maneja,” or “the wood drives.”

Artesanías Kandy also exports to El Salvador, Costa Rica, the United States and Europe. His business supports a network of 9 artisans, who all work out of Carlos’ workshop, which is located in the back of his home. His goals for the future are to keep improving the process and his workshop’s infrastructure, while saving enough money to send his daughters to college. He’s already working on his second career, studying law while he’s not making exquisite pieces out of precious wood.

Be sure to check out their awesome work in the lodge!

There you have it! We are honored to feature these incredibly talented artists and their work in the Lodge. Their work welcomes you to Pacaya Lodge & Spa and creates a unique sense-of-place that feels authentically Nicaraguan. We hope you will make a point to get to know the awesome people behind the artwork while you are here. The Lodge hosts weekly on-site artisan galleries and provides day trips to visit several artisans in the area. We know you’ll enjoy their work!

Find out more about our local partnerships by clicking here.