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, recount their time in Oaxaca with Demetrio.
The rugs featured here are approximately 2' x 3.75' long and made of wool. All colors are created using natural dyes grown and gathered local to Demetrio. To see bigger rugs, .
Details of each rug are listed below:
1. Mariposa - Cochineal
Dyes used include cochineal. Limes are used to alter the pH to create the wide array of pinks shows. The rust color is created by combining cochineal with perícon.
2. Zapotec Diamonds with Candles and Mountains - Field and Forest
Dyes used include cochineal, indigo, pomegranate, and pecan shells. The green is created from zapote leaves.
3. Zapotec Diamonds with Candles and Mountains - Indigo
Dyes used include indigo.
4. Mountains, Leaves, and Snails (Grecas) - Desert
The array of browns were created using pecan leaves. The grey-brown color is the natural shade of handspun sheep's wool from a nearby village named Chichicápam.
5. Zapotec Diamonds with Candles and Mountains - Joy
Dyes used include cochineal, indigo, pomegranate, pecan shells, and perícon overdyed with indigo.
6. Tree of Life
This rug is so incredible. Each bird is unique and features an amazing array of colors and dyes; a sampler of what is possible with locally-grown and gathered Oaxacan dyes. The rich brown used to create the trunk and tree limbs is made using zapote leaves. The background is made from the natural shade of handspun sheep's wool from a nearby village named Chichicápam.
7. Mountain and Rain - Field and Forest
Dyes used include cochineal, indigo, and lichen.
8. Olas - Granite
A striking two-color rug; the black is made from from huizache (acacia). The grey-brown color is the natural shade 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 $21 shipping charge for shipments within the US.
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.
