The Zapotec weavers of Teotitlán del Valle located in Oaxaca, Mexico hand make beautiful carpets. For centuries families have handed down the weaving tradition to their children with many families going back six and seven generations. One of the most renowned of his generation is Demetrio Bautista Lazo, who, like most of the younger weavers of the community, grew up at his parents’ side weaving rugs.
For Demetrio the process of making a rug begins in the meadows above his village. He gathers the flowers and plants from which he’ll make the natural dyed yarns he weaves into the gorgeous tapetes. In addition, he dyes yarn with cochineal and indigo and weaves such into his designs, bringing his depth of dye knowledge and creativity to each weaving. The rugs are woven by hand on a large floor loom.
Drawing upon Zapotec cultural motifs, “You can look at the designs in the stones, and look at my carpets, and still see the same designs,” Demetrio says. “We’ve been using many of the same images for hundreds of years. But I’m constantly refining my own ideas, and working to do something a little bit different.”
Learn more about Demetrio Bautista Lazo via his website and by reading , where Kristine and Adrienne, the co-founders of Verb, travel to meet Demetrio and spend time visiting other natural dyers in the region with Demetrio.
The rugs featured here are approximately 2.5' x 5' long and made of wool. All colors are created using natural dyes grown and gathered local to Demetrio. To see smaller rugs,
Details of each rug are listed below:
1. Mountains and Snails - Field and Forest
Dyes used include cochineal, pecan leaves, indigo, and wild chamomile. The small striped pattern seen in between the larger motifs is called teeth.
2. Zapotec Diamonds with Candles and Mountains - Woodland
Dyes used include pecan leaves. This rug also includes natural shades of handspun sheep's wool from a nearby village named Chichicápam.
3. Mountains and Rain - Field and Forest
Dyes used include indigo, cochineal, and lichen.
4. Zapotec Diamonds with Candles and Mountains - Deep Water
Dyes used include indigo, and indigo overdyed with wild chamomile.
5. Skutch and Snail - Canyon
Skutch means peaks in Zapotec. Dyes used include muitle / muicle (Justicia spicigera). This rug also includes natural shades of handspun sheep's wool from a nearby village named Chichicápam.
6. Mountains and Rain - Indigo
Dyes used include Oaxacan indigo - to get those gorgeous arrays of blue!
7. Zapotec Diamonds with Candles and Mountains - Desert
This rich red is created by combining cochineal, lichen, and pecan shells. The dark brown color is created from using pecan leaves. This rug also includes natural shades of handspun sheep's wool from a nearby village named Chichicápam.
We regret to inform you that discounts may not be applied to these items. Due to the size of this item, there will be an additional $31 shipping charge for shipments with the US, $51 to Canada, and $74 for international shipments.
All sales are final. If you would like to see the rugs in person, please email us to make an appointment.
If a rug is sold out that you would like to purchase, we can create a special order for it to be woven for you.
