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Southwest Decor

Hand Woven Southwest Wool Zapotec Rugs

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These rugs are each one of a kind (there is only one of each available) from Teotitlan Del Valle. This is a small village in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico that we visited. The town is famous for its weavers. The local Zapotec Indian artisans hand-weave these rugs known as Zapotec rugs or in Spanish - Tapates. Their weaving skills have been handed down for centuries going all the way back to the Pre-Columbian era of history. When the Spanish came to Mexico in the 1500s and 1600s they introduced the hand spinning wheel technology and the horizontal weaving loom which the Zapotec continue to use today.

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Authentic Zapotec Rugs	Size	Price	Sale Price
Zapotec Rug 035 100% Wool, Hand Dyed, fringed. Southwest geometric motifs in ceremonial reds, SW evening and night sky blues, and grays.	55 1/2" x 29" View Larger Photo	$99.99	SOLD OUT
Zapotec Rug 038 100% Wool, Hand Dyed, fringed. Southwest motifs in harvest oranges, cranberry reds and sea foam greens.	57" x 29" View Larger Photo	$99.99	SOLD OUT
Zapotec Rug 040 100% Wool, Hand Dyed, fringed. Southwestern motifs in ceremonial reds, cranberry reds, grays and harvest oranges.	56 1/2" x 28" View Larger Photo	$99.99	Sold Out
Zapotec Rug 041 100% Wool, Hand Dyed, fringed.  SW Geometrics in cranberry reds, grays, emarald greens and saddle browns	56" x 27 1/2" View Larger Photo	$99.99	SOLD OUT

We use these tapates for accent wall hangings, area rugs, throws over furniture for that distinctive Southwest or Western feel. You find these in many of the adobe homes in Santa Fe draped over a shelf, sofa or as accent rugs in living rooms and hallways.

We were privileged to get to watch as they hand-made the rugs on giant horizontal looms, weaving the different colored wool yarns in and out to form the intricate patterns. It was amazing how fast they were able to work. Even then, rugs like these may take them two or three days to make. A large 6 foot by 9 foot rug may take weeks to complete.

What was really amazing to learn was how they make the dyes that are used on the yarn. The dyes are made from natural substances they find in the surrounding country. They use bugs(Cochineal) that live on cactus and when crushed creates a deep red color, the Indigofera plant to produce deep blues and purples and many more natural substances. They will combine different substances to make many different colors and hues. Because the dyes are natural and not chemical the color is much richer and natural looking.

The dyes are enhanced further by the natural lanolin found in the sheep's wool they gather from sheepherders in the mountains around Oaxaca. You can quickly tell a natural dye rug by its light distinctive lanolin odor which is usually lost with chemical dyes. The rugs don't tend to fade as chemical dye rugs often do. They process the wool by hand and then spin it by hand. It is a very labor intensive process and produces wonderful one of a kind pieces of art for your home.

Each rug is one of a kind and a piece of art to enjoy for many years. You won't find a better price for this quality.

Previous purchases excluded from sale.