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The Craft and the Carvers of Puerto Rican Wooden Saints             En español

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TOOLS OF THE CRAFT

 HOW DO YOU CARVE A WOODEN SAINT?

VISIT THE MASTER CARVERS:

 LUIS R. NIEVES ROMÁN (PICHILO)

EVARISTO GONZÁLEZ

NITZA TOSTE

LUIS GONZÁLEZ

WILLIAM ÁLVAREZ

 

 

            

Today we can find literally hundreds of carvers. The following list includes some of the carvers that stand out
due to the national and international recognition of their work:

Héctor Álvarez Paredes
Carlos Anzueta
Antonio Avilés
Celestino Avilés [deceased]
Ceferino Calderón [deceased]
Carmen González
Luís González
Zayda Isern
Isaac Laboy
 

Gloria López
Amaury Lugo
José L. Millán
Héctor Moya
José L. Negrón
Luis R. Nieves Román (Pichilo)
Santia Orta
Domingo Orta [deceased]
José L. Peña Burgos
José R. Rivera

Roberto Rivera [deceased]
Carmen Rodríguez
José Rosado
José Román
Carlos Santiago
José Sierra
Carmen L. Tañón
Nitza M. Toste


The heyday of the craft of saint carving occurred between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The most distinguished carvers of those times--hose work has been identified--were:

  • the Espada family of San Germán

  • the Rivera family of Orocovis

  • the Arce family of Lares

  • the Cabán family of Camuy

  • the Cachetones of Lares

There also existed certain carvers who were only known by the place where their carvings were found:

  • the Maestro of Aguada

  • the Maestro of the Mountains