Aladdin’s cave of native Peruvian folk art.
Scottish-born Mari Solari immigrated to Peru in 1966 and has since become Peru’s leading specialist in the area of Peruvian native folk art. Las Pallas is located on Cajamarca Street in the hip bohemian district of Barranco and is an Aladdin’s cave packed with treasures sourced by Mari Solari herself from all over Peru. She started learning about Peruvian folk art working in her mother-in-law’s gallery in San Juan de Lurigancho where she started meeting artisans and learning about quality and the different native art techniques used in different parts of Peru.
She opened her own shop Las Pallas in 1986 and has created a flamboyant and colourful collection of native folk art that is well worth a visit for travellers looking for souvenirs or gifts to take home from their Peru adventure.
She stocks folk art from the coast, Andes and Amazon regions of Peru showcasing the highest quality pieces which are all hand-selected personally by Mari Solari. You might have already seen similar items on display during your travels around Peru but the focus here is on exquisite craftsmanship so the quality of each piece is second to none and the artisans are all paid fairly and directly for their work unlike in many of the markets around Peru.
Items include colourful woven baskets typical in Lima, hand-crafted wooden toys made in Trujillo, ceramics from Ayacucho and Cusco, carnival masks, traditional weavings, as well as a wide range of spiritual and sacred items including amulets and the traditional altarpieces from Ayacucho.
Best of Peru Travel Recommends:
- Las Pallas operates a closed door policy so make sure you ring the bell on the street outside to be let in to the shop.
- Be sure to ask their very knowledgeable team about any specific items that interest you, Mari Solari is usually in the shop too and loves sharing about her pieces with visitors.