Metal Chain Symbolizing Slavery, Haitian Metal Art, Fair Trade Decor 34x16in

Handmade Historic Art, Metal Chain Symbolizing Slavery, Fair Trade Decor 34x16in

In 1681, there had been 2000 slaves in Saint-Domingue; in 1701, there were 10,000. By 1720, the French were importing 8,000 slaves each year from Africa. When the French began to plant coffee, around 1734, profits in Saint-Domingue soared and more slaves were needed for yet another labor-intensive crop.

The Haitian Revolution of 1804, the only successful slave revolt in human history, precipitated the end of slavery not only in Saint-Domingue, but in all French colonies.

Artist Profile-Louiceus Antelus
Even a brief look at the work of Louiceus Antelus demonstrates that his imagination knows no boundaries. Always reaching, always exploring, he has an acute eye for the possible. And while some designs are quite elaborate, others are elegant in their simplicity. He knows when more is more, but perhaps more importantly from a composition standpoint, he knows when enough is enough.
He’s had good training. Beginning as an unpaid apprentice with master sculptor, Gabriel Bien Aime at the age of 15, he moved on to work with the Balan brothers, Jonas and Julio. At that point, he started to assume more and more difficult tasks, rose to each occasion, and came to be paid accordingly. The earthquake of January 2010 was cataclysmic for Louiceus, as it was for most of his countrymen. He and his family survived, but he lost much of his work and most of his Haitian customers, many of whom did not pull through the disaster. Of those that did, all but a scant few left Haiti for good. Still Louiceus retains his joie de vivre. In his words, “I love God, my work, little children, football, my country, and I love you all.”

Fair trade isn't just a good idea - its the way we do business.

We offer a hand up, not a hand out to our artist partners in Haiti. Each sale of their metal sculptures represents a positive step toward a better life.

The center of Haitian metal sculpture is the village of Croix-des-Bouquets, where the clanging sound of hammers striking chisels is a constant music. To begin, the artist chalks his design onto the metal. Chisels, dies and a large hammer are used to cut and shape the piece, giving it form and texture. When the highly intricate and physically demanding work is complete and the artist is satisfied with his work, he signs his name boldly with a small chisel and applies a clear, weather-proof coating. The result is a wonderful, fair trade piece of handcrafted art.