Edgar Villalón for Artesanos Dos Bosco

EDGAR VILLALÓN (Peru, 20th century) for Artesanos Dos Bosco.
Set of four chairs, Peru, 1980.
Cedar wood.
In good condition.
Signed and stamped by the manufacturer.
Measurements: 79 x 51 x 40 cm; 46 cm (seat height).
The chairs are made entirely of solid cedar wood using traditional cabinetmaking techniques. Their structure is assembled using a tongue-and-groove system and mortise-and-tenon joints—construction methods that ensure strength and durability without relying on nails. The entire process is carried out by hand, using planes, rulers, and traditional tools that leave a subtly grooved texture on the wood—visible evidence of the artisan’s direct work. The richly carved backrests reveal the technical mastery achieved in the workshops of Chacas and the unique fusion of the European tradition of woodcarving with formal expressions developed within the Andean context.
This set of four chairs was crafted by Artesanos Don Bosco, an association of cabinetmakers and woodcarvers based in Chacas, located in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca mountain range. Its origins are linked to the educational and social project spearheaded by the Salesian priest Ugo de Censi, who founded the Don Bosco Workshop School in 1978 with the goal of offering young people from Andean communities specialized training in trades such as cabinetmaking, carving, restoration, and other applied arts. The initiative, which became an artisans’ association in 1985, sought to create job opportunities that would allow apprentices to develop a profession without leaving their communities, while also helping to preserve a rich artisanal tradition. One of the most distinctive features of Artesanos Don Bosco is its approach to authorship. In contrast to mass production, each piece of furniture is crafted from start to finish by a single master artisan, who is responsible for every stage of the process, from selecting the wood to applying the final finish. As a guarantee of authenticity and a commitment to the quality of the work, the artisan signs the piece by engraving his name on the underside of the seat, next to the workshop’s seal. This set bears the signature of cabinetmaker Edgar Villalón.