Andean Magic Art Jewelry Company
Our guide, Juan Cornejo, brought us to a company that makes incredible pieces of jewelry in both silver and gold. They have the best reputation In Cuzco for purity and workmanship. Products sold on the streets and in some stores mix the silver with aluminum and other cheap metals. No wonder I got such good deals last year.
We saw the entire process of silversmithing
We saw the entire process of silversmithing

We saw the entire process of silversmithing
 		Here the pure silver is being melted down and made into small ingots
Here the pure silver is being melted down and made into small ingots

Here the pure silver is being melted down and made into small ingots
 		Once the Ingot is made it can be shapped by the other artisans
Once the Ingot is made it can be shapped by the other artisans

Once the Ingot is made it can be shapped by the other artisans
This artisan is putting together pieces of silver that will become an Inca figure
This artisan is putting together pieces of silver that will become an Inca figure

This artisan is putting together pieces of silver that will become an Inca figure
 		Our guide at the shop explained the process
Our guide at the shop explained the process

Our guide at the shop explained the process
 		These men are cutting tiny pieces of silver to make the necessary shapes for earings, bracelets, necklaces and more
These men are cutting tiny pieces of silver to make the necessary shapes for earings, bracelets, necklaces and more

These men are cutting tiny pieces of silver to make the necessary shapes for earings, bracelets, necklaces and more
Each artisan had their own station They work for many years to learn each step of the process
Each artisan had their own station They work for many years to learn each step of the process

Each artisan had their own station They work for many years to learn each step of the process
 		Some of the larger tools for working the silver
Some of the larger tools for working the silver

Some of the larger tools for working the silver
 		This man is cutting pieces of shell, jade and other stones for inlaying in the silver pieces
This man is cutting pieces of shell, jade and other stones for inlaying in the silver pieces

This man is cutting pieces of shell, jade and other stones for inlaying in the silver pieces
It was fine detailed work and some of the pieces he cut were extremely small
It was fine detailed work and some of the pieces he cut were extremely small

It was fine detailed work and some of the pieces he cut were extremely small
 		This piece will become a bracelet with many segments and inlays
This piece will become a bracelet with many segments and inlays

This piece will become a bracelet with many segments and inlays
 		Our jewelry company guide showed us a silver tree with a hummingbird and the national flower of Peru
Our jewelry company guide showed us a silver tree with a hummingbird and the national flower of Peru

Our jewelry company guide showed us a silver tree with a hummingbird and the national flower of Peru
This figure took 6 months to create It is silver and gold with many inlays The price was 3500 US dollars
This figure took 6 months to create It is silver and gold with many inlays The price was 3500 US dollars

This figure took 6 months to create It is silver and gold with many inlays The price was 3500 US dollars
 		We had the shop to ourselves and there was no pressure, unlike the street vendors everywhere else Sellers on the streets of Cuzco hounded us at every turn
We had the shop to ourselves and there was no pressure, unlike the street vendors everywhere else Sellers on the streets of Cuzco hounded us at every turn

We had the shop to ourselves and there was no pressure, unlike the street vendors everywhere else Sellers on the streets of Cuzco hounded us at every turn
 		An Inca Warrior
An Inca Warrior

An Inca Warrior
An Inca Priest, amazing detail
An Inca Priest, amazing detail

An Inca Priest, amazing detail
 		This piece was sold for 7500 US dollars and took a year to create
This piece was sold for 7500 US dollars and took a year to create

This piece was sold for 7500 US dollars and took a year to create