Steel Drum Art - Haitian Metal Mask

Artisans in the Croix des Bouquets area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti made this intricate wall piece from recycled oil drums. The material was readily available when Haiti provided reliable labor for many industrialized nations but now with political unrest, few companies operate manufacturing operations in Haiti so oil drums no longer are readily available at the ports. But the skill of the artisans make it worth importing the drums, and what was once free material is now an added cost of maintaining a livelihood for the artisans.

Handcut and hammered, this butterfly maintains the natural patina of the oil drum and is approximately 20 by 15 inches in size. Due to the handmade nature of the product, the piece purchased may vary slightly from the one pictured.


Handcrafted by incredibly skilled Haitian Artisans. We met Carlo Brutus and Eugene Jacques, two of the many artisans in Croix des Bouquets, an area of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti known for artisans who make oil drum art. The constant hammering from the sheds in the area led us to beautiful metalwork, with each stop offering new designs.

EugeneÕs shed was tucked behind several others and yielded unique three-dimensional masks with cogs and bicycle chains for earrings. Each piece is a work of art and signed with ÒEugeneÓ. Carlo has what seemed like hundreds of different design of the ubiquitous round steel drum artwork hanging from every inch of wall space in his tiny warehouse.

The Diaspora of Haitians has spread the designs and skills of Oil Drum art throughout the Caribbean but the art is truly Haitian. Old oil drums are no longer readily available and are imported into Haiti by container and sold to the artisans. Even though cheaper, more readily available steel sheets could be used, artisans rely on the used drums for the patina in their art.

Steel Drum Art - Haitian Metal Mask

• Intricate piece made from recycled oil drums in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti.
  
• Recycled oil drums are handcut and worked with textured details creating this one-of-a-kind piece
  
• Shows a detailed butterfly face
  
• No two pieces are alike! Please allow for slight variances.
  
• Made by Carlo Brutus, one of the metal artisans in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti
  
• Measures approximately 24 inches in diameter

Handcrafted by incredibly skilled Haitian Artisans. We met Carlo Brutus and Eugene Jacques, two of the many artisans in Croix des Bouquets, an area of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti known for artisans who make oil drum art. The constant hammering from the sheds in the area led us to beautiful metalwork, with each stop offering new designs.

EugeneÕs shed was tucked behind several others and yielded unique three-dimensional masks with cogs and bicycle chains for earrings. Each piece is a work of art and signed with ÒEugeneÓ. Carlo has what seemed like hundreds of different design of the ubiquitous round steel drum artwork hanging from every inch of wall space in his tiny warehouse.

The Diaspora of Haitians has spread the designs and skills of Oil Drum art throughout the Caribbean but the art is truly Haitian. Old oil drums are no longer readily available and are imported into Haiti by container and sold to the artisans. Even though cheaper, more readily available steel sheets could be used, artisans rely on the used drums for the patina in their art.