The Artistic Touch Of The Southwest Zapotec Indians

Famous for their weaving skill and artistry, the southwest Zapotec Indians today carry on a textile tradition that stretches back for thousands of years. Once confined to the Oaxaca Valley in southern Mexico, the Zapotec Indians gradually expanded their influence by warfare and trade and eventually became a part of the Aztec empire. By these means, the artistic style and traditions of the Zapotecs spread out of their natal valley towards the American southwest. These artistic traditions can still be experienced in the Zapotec art available today.

Purchasing a unique piece of Zapotec textile art is an awesome addition to your southwest decor as well as an educational and cultural experience. All of the weavings are made by hand by the talented Zapotec Indian people. You can be assured that hundreds of years of artistic heritage is behind each piece, when purchasing a tapestry, rug, or pillow made by southwest Zapotec Indians. A home or room decorated using authentic Zapotec pieces, will become a creative southwest masterpiece.

Unchanged for hundreds of years, the process used by the Zapotec Indians to weave their rugs and tapestries has remained the same. This causes the process to be slower but assures that each piece made is a work of art that is never to be duplicated. The knowledge needed to handle not only the mechanical side of weaving, but also how to design the patterns to be used is passed down from generation to generation. There is always a need for new concepts and ideas when weaving however, many of the designs used are traditional and will always remain the same. Known for the skill with which they are created as well as their design qualities, master weaver families provide a fine line of woven textiles.

The Zapotec people are very dedicated to maintaining the traditional skills in their culture and pay close attention to ensure that every step in making their rugs and tapestries is followed correctly. The sheep used for the wool are descendants of those brought by the Spanish when they first landed in Mexico. After shearing, the wool is carded by hand, then spun on a spinning wheel into the thread that will be used in the weaving. After being spun into skeins, the wool still needs to be dyed and this is done in the Zapotec village, once again by hand. After the wool has been dyed to the specific color requested by the master dyer, it is then hung up to be dried in the air. Once the wool is dried, it is taken to the weavers who will turn the spools of yarn into beautiful textiles. There can be no mistaking the quality of a rug, pillow, or tapestry made in a process that is natural and organic from start to finish. You are helping the Zapotec people to achieve self-sufficiency and independence by purchasing one of these southwest Indian masterpieces.

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