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Knowing a country’s arts and culture is knowing its people, its traditions and also the sensitivity of those artists who have made them. Craftsmanship in the Dominican Republic is an exquisite and noble trade for many locals in this Caribbean nation. Describing the genuine native arts is like plunging head first into the spirit of the Dominican people.

Dominican amber is considered the world’s finest and with it artisans and artists make lovely pieces for the delight of travelers and tourists. This amber comes in a variety of bright colors, let alone amazing and peerless beauty.

There are yellow, opaque, white, red, black, green, blue, silver, pink and purple amber, the result of a fossil resin found in a tree called Hymenaea whose roots hark back to the Tertiary Age. According to scholars, the amber found in the Dominican Republic is one of the most sought-after ones on the face of the earth. Fossils of endemic flora and wildlife –a proof of its authenticity- are usually seen trapped inside.

The magnetic force and positive energy this semi-precious gem is believed to be blessed with drove primitive dwellers to wear amber in an effort to shoo away evil and negative vibes. The amber found in this Caribbean country has been used as excellent raw material for making delicate decorative craftworks and exquisite jewelry that reflect the gem’s splendor and beauty.

Dominican craftsmanship hinges, above all, on jewelry. Astonishing necklaces made in an assortment of shapes and designs and using amber of different colors –blue and champagne are the priciest- top of the list of items. Marvelous earrings and brooches featuring ingrained fossils, gold and silver; wonderful bracelets and fine studs are coveted all around the world.

Other craftworks, equally original and desired, are the smal animal-shaped sculptures, like elephants, fish, turtles, owls, frogs and cats. A good sample of what amber has truly meant to the Dominican people through the years is in display at the World Amber Museum in Santo Domingo’s colonial downtown area, housed in a 17th-century mansion.

DOMINICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP’S HIGH VALUE In both rural and urban areas, the artistic sensitivity of the Dominican people is expressed in the small handicrafts they make. An array of craftworks can be found in the streets, main avenues and shopping malls of Santo Domingo.

Tourists may have fun as they scour the luring outlets and saunter the streets of the nation’s capital, heading for spots like the Mercado Modelo, the Plaza Criolla, El Conde Street, Las Atarazanas or Casa de Bastidas, where you may choose from a multitude of items made of horn, leather, snail shell, amber or larimar, or make a pick among earthenware, ceramic or wickerwork.

Decorations and objects made of wood and palm, ceramic or embroidered cotton fabric are equally in high demand among visitors. The variety of colors and shapes is nearly endless, and the way they meet the eye is really something.

Naïf oleos –their origins have been traced back in neighboring Haiti- have also become top artistic commodities in the Dominican Republic. Their artists have managed to incorporate striking elements and motifs of their own that give these paintings amazing character and attractiveness. Works in art galleries, for instance, in the City of Artists up in Altos de Chavon, La Romana, are coveted and sought after by the most selected buyers.

THE ARTS RUN IN THE DOMINICANS’ BLOOD Those who love sculptures will be dazzled by the beautiful mahogany figures, the masks of mischievous devils or the lovely music boxes that play back merengue –the traditional rhythm of this land.

Lime dolls are also part of the Dominican Republic’s handicraft tradition. Featuring anonymous facesand dressed in long gowns, either carrying pails of water, hawking fruits or flowers, and wearing headkerchiefs, these top-quality figurines have been in high demand both in and out of the country. The Lime dolls have become genuine symbols of the Dominican Republic.

Another precious gem widely used in the local craftsmanship is larimar, known locally as the Dominican turquoise.

The bluish larimar hails exclusively from this country and its plentiful deposits along the southern region expose their veins wide open up in the mountains.

Art and tradition run in the blood of Dominican artists. They have undoubtedly managed to captivate tourists and visitors alike with their craftworks in their many forms and colors.