Argentina

Gaucho goods. The lifestyle of the Gaucho, or South American cowboy, is revered in Argentina, and Gaucho crafts are popular there. Look for boleadoras, weighted, leather-covered balls attached to a piece of rope and used for hunting; silver-studded leather belts and stirrups; facones (knives); mate drinking gourds; silver spurs; cowhides; and woven ponchos at Kelly's Regionales (tel. +54 11 4311 5712).

Pottery. Potters in northwest Argentina create beautiful carved and painted pre-Columbian pottery from river clay (the Guayamba River in Santiago del Estero is popular for clay). After the pottery is molded and fired, glazes made of goat manure are applied for a gleaming black finish, and special paints create etching-like designs. Buy pottery from markets around northwest Argentina and from Pampa Brava (tel. +54 11 4802 7407).