Indigenous carpenters and the carpentry guild ‘de lo blanco’ in Lima during the 16th and 17th centuries

Hurtado-Valdez P.; Fernández C.D. · Americania (2026) · DOI: 10.46661/americania.12196

Resumen

Research on "white" carpentry in Lima has focused primarily on stylistic analyses of the roof trusses, leaving a gap in knowledge regarding the involvement of the carpenters who crafted these buildings, and within this, the contribution of indigenous carpenters. This paper examines the working environment of carpenters during the 16th and early 17th centuries, which influenced the wooden architecture of this period, and how carpentry spread among the indigenous population. The research explored historical sources and evidence from buildings in rural villages near Lima, which shed light on the work of indigenous carpenters. It also revealed the initial presence of Spanish carpenters, who traveled regularly between Lima and nearby Andean regions, disseminating Spanish construction techniques and integrating indigenous labor into "white" carpentry.

Instituciones: Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola