Skip to product information
1 of 3

Red Stars Zapotec Bright Red Wool Rug Hand Loomed in Oaxaca (4x6.5)

Red Stars Zapotec Bright Red Wool Rug Hand Loomed in Oaxaca (4x6.5)

Regular price $465.95
Sale price $465.95 Regular price
Sale Sold out

Calculating your impact…

SKU: SKU: SK-NVC-390966

Product Features
Working with Fair Trade certified organizations is an important part of what we do. This product is made by artisans that are fairly compensated for their skilled work, and helps provide a living wage as well as safe work conditions.

A brilliant red ground is bordered by traditional Zapotec motifs in royal blue, maroon and saffron in this area rug from Alberto Ruiz. The Mexican artisan uses a treadle loom and pure wool yarns to weave the rug by hand. As is customary in that area, the yarns are dyed with all-natural materials such as cochineal, tree bark and dried flowers. Hand-knotted fringe adorns both ends.

  • materials: 100% wool
  • All natural dyes
  • Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
81 in. L x 48 in. W; Fringe: 3.5 in. L

Dry in the shade;Hand wash cold with mild detergent

Artisan Information

Alberto Ruiz

Shop all Alberto Ruiz products

Hola! My name is Alberto Ruiz García and I'm from a town in Oaxaca dedicated to weaving. I am the fourth generation of my family to practice this craft. I remember as a child I watched my father working on the loom while my mother and grandmother carded and dyed the wool so that the men could weave it.

First the sheep are sheared, and this is done twice a year. We pick out any twigs and burrs and wash the fleece. Then we card it with two large wire brushes so that it is soft and can be worked on a wooden spinning wheel. We wash it with amole, a plant that grows in the sierra. It releases a lot of foam, and in this way the wool doesn't lose its purity. If we washed it with commercial soaps, the wool would lose its shine and wouldn't absorb the natural dyes as well. This removes the impurities and natural grease. We then spin it and dye it with tints from the cochineal insect, pomegranate peel, bark from the huajal tree that thrives here, as well as oak and pecan bark. Stones, dried flowers, almost all the rocks and flowers here yield natural colors.

"To achieve the dyes, we soak the materials in a big pot of water and let it sit at least a month. Then we set it on the fire to boil. We immerse the hanks of yarn for half an hour and then we take them out to dry. The wool is washed once more to fix the colors.

"The long, narrow bobbins we use are made of reed, and we wind the yarn on them to weave it. We first warp the handloom, and then we begin to weave the rug. Depending on the size, it can take a long time to finish. A small rug can be made in two or three days, but a large one can take six weeks to weave.

"My wife and I work together in our home. We help each other, and in this way we can finish our rugs sooner. I especially like diamond motifs, as they represent a kind of maguey coat of arms seen at Monte Albán. They exemplify my Zapotec heritage."

Shipping

United States shipping only. Expedited shipping is unavailable. Allow for 1-2 days extra processing time. This product may ship separately from other products in your order and may have longer than normal shipping timelines as it will ship directly from its country of origin.

Returns

All sales of this product are final -- we do not accept returns or issue replacements unless there is a defect with the product. Please review our Returns & Exchanges policy.

View full details
Customers Also Viewed
Recommended Just For You

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)