![ExpoHallMEAPO1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/ExpoHallMEAPO1.JPG)
Oaxaca handcrafts and folk art is one of
Mexico's important regional traditions of its kind, distinguished by both its overall quality and variety. Producing goods for trade has been an important economic activity in the state, especially in the Central Valleys region since the pre-Hispanic era which the area laid on the trade route between central Mexico and
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
. In the colonial period, the Spanish introduced new raw materials, new techniques and products but the rise of industrially produced products lowered the demand for most handcrafts by the early 20th century. The introduction of highways in the middle part of the century brought tourism to the region and with it a new market for traditional handcrafts. Today, the state boasts the largest number of working artisans in Mexico, producing a wide range of products that continue to grow and evolve to meet changing tastes in the market.
Oaxacan handcrafts are also highly specialized by community. Notable wares include the
barro negro pottery
Barro negro pottery ("black clay") is a style of pottery from Oaxaca, Mexico, distinguished by its color, sheen and unique designs. Oaxaca is one of few Mexican states which is characterized by the continuance of its ancestral crafts, which are ...
of
San Bartolo Coyotepec
San Bartolo Coyotepec is a town and municipality located in the center of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is in the Centro District of the Valles Centrales region about fifteen km south of the capital of Oaxaca.
The town is best known for its ' ...
, the
green glazed and other pottery of
Santa María Atzompa
Santa María Atzompa is a town and municipality located in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, about five km from the state capital of Oaxaca.
It is part of the Centro District in the Valles Centrales region. The town was founded between the 7th and 9th ...
, the wool textiles of
Teotitlán del Valle
Teotitlán del Valle is a small village and municipality located in the Tlacolula District in the east of the Valles Centrales Region, 31 km from the city of Oaxaca in the foothills of the Sierra Juárez mountains. It is part of the Tlacolula ...
and surrounding communities, the
mezcal
Mezcal (, ), sometimes spelled mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave. The word ''mezcal'' comes from Nahuatl , which means "oven-cooked agave", from and .What is MezcalElmezcal.org Traditionally the word "m ...
of
Tlacolula de Matamoros
Tlacolula de Matamoros is a city and municipality in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, about 30 km from the center of the city of Oaxaca on Federal Highway 190, which leads east to Mitla and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
It is part of the Tlacolul ...
(and numerous other towns and villages) and a newcomer,
colorful animal figures carved from wood made in
San Antonio Arrazola and
San Martín Tilcajete
San Martín Tilcajete is a town and municipality located about from the city of Oaxaca, in the state of Oaxaca, in the south of Mexico.
It is part of the Ocotlán District in the south of the Valles Centrales Region
The municipality is small an ...
. Most of the production is in the Central Valleys, but artisans can be found all over the state including the
Chinantla
Chinantla is a village in Chinantla Municipality of the state of Puebla, Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the U ...
area with its
huipil
''Huipil'' (Nahuatl: '' huīpīlli'' ; Ch'orti': ''b’ujk''; Chuj: ''nip'') is the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women from central Mexico to Central America.
It is a loose-fitting tunic, generally made from two or three re ...
s, the
Tehuantepec
Tehuantepec (, in full, Santo Domingo Tehuantepec) is a city and municipality in the southeast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is part of the Tehuantepec District in the west of the Istmo Region. The area was important in pre Hispanic period ...
area with its traditional clothing and jewelry made of gold coins and palm frond woven goods from the
Mixtec
The Mixtecs (), or Mixtecos, are indigenous Mesoamerican peoples of Mexico inhabiting the region known as La Mixteca of Oaxaca and Puebla as well as La Montaña Region and Costa Chica Regions of the state of Guerrero. The Mixtec Culture wa ...
area of the state.
Status and distinguishing characteristics
![CarlomagnoWorkshop29](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/CarlomagnoWorkshop29.JPG)
The state of Oaxaca is one of the main and best-known producers of handcrafts (which includes certain kinds of processed foods) in Mexico. Its long tradition of production since the pre-Hispanic period along with an abundance of raw materials has allowed this tradition to stand out both in quality and the variety.
The most successful products are ceramics and textiles, followed by those made from wood and leather.
[ Other production includes wood carving, metal work, embroidery, leatherwork, fireworks, ]papel picado
Papel picado ("perforated paper," "pecked paper") is a traditional Mexican decorative craft made by cutting elaborate designs into sheets of tissue paper. Papel picado is considered a Mexican folk art. The designs are commonly cut from as many ...
, stone work, furniture and more.
One distinguishing feature of Oaxaca handcrafts is specialization of production by community, which began in the pre-Hispanic period supported by a complex web of regional markets. This tradition is maintained because of the state's mountainous terrain and poverty, which has inhibited the development of transportation infrastructure allowing communities to remain relatively autonomous and fractured politically and socially.[ This tradition is one of the strongest in Mexico,][ and the state has the highest number of artisans with 58,398 in 2012.] The regional market system also remains in place to make handcrafts widely available in the state, especially in the Central Valleys region.[
The strongest indigenous influences on Oaxacan handcrafts are Zapotec and Mixtec.] Local materials also have an effect on what is produced. In San Bartolo Coyotepec, the local clay turns a deep shiny black if the piece is burnished before firing. Traditional dyes for textiles include those made from the cochineal insect, which produces various shades of red and a marine snail found on the state's coastline for purple. Traditional fibers include cotton (brown and white), wool and maguey. Production techniques are largely unchanged since the pre Hispanic and colonial periods, made in family workshops, with labor often divided by sex, age and social status.[ A number of artisans and artisan families have gained reputation for fine products and the fine pieces can be found in museums in many parts of the world.][ There is also innovation in the handcraft markets with artisans adapting designs to suit new markets and even the creation of new items, such as ]alebrijes
Alebrijes () are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical (fantasy/mythical) creatures.
Description
The monos de madera or alebrijes as they are called in Spanish were originally created by carver Manuel Jimenez but soon becam ...
.[
]
Development
The making of good for trade as well as local use was established in the region relatively early in the pre-Hispanic period because the state, especially the Central Valley, was on the trade route that connected central Mexico with Central America.[ One example of this is the archeological site of El Palmillo, which was a major weaving center, with the weaving of various fibers established by the ]Classic Period
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of prehispanic Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian (first human habitation until 3500 BCE); the Archaic (before 2600 BCE), the Preclassic or Formative (2500 BCE –  ...
. Then as now, production was centered in households with the households varying in the intensity and type of production. One other common trade good was worked seashells, which the raw material coming from the Oaxacan coast despite the rough terrain, to be worked and then traded here.
This tradition of supplementing family income has remained to the present day. The main products have been textiles, ceramics, stone products, baskets and wood products although these have evolved and new products have been introduced.[
The Spanish, at the beginning of the colonial period, introduced new raw materials, new products and new techniques to diversify the products the region's artisans produced. In the pre-Hispanic period, the main fibers were cotton and ]ixtle
Ixtle, also known by the trade name Tampico fiber, is a stiff plant fiber obtained from a number of Mexican plants, chiefly species of ''Agave'' and ''Yucca''. The principal source is ''Agave lechuguilla'', the dominant ''Agave'' species in the C ...
(made from maguey leaves), and the main weaving mechanism was the backstrap loom
A loom is a device used to weave cloth and tapestry. The basic purpose of any loom is to hold the warp threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads. The precise shape of the loom and its mechanics may vary, but th ...
. The Spanish introduced wool and silk, along with new dyes/colors as well as the pedal loom, which allows faster weaving and the creation of larger pieces. Today Oaxacan weavers produce rugs, handkerchiefs, carrying bags, poncho
A poncho (; qu, punchu; arn, pontro; "blanket", "woolen fabric") is an outer garment designed to keep the body warm. A rain poncho is made from a watertight material designed to keep the body dry from the rain. Ponchos have been used by the ...
s, various articles of clothing and more. These changes did not eliminate the older methods. The backstrap loom in still in use, as are dyes made from local plants, animals and minerals such as cochineal
The cochineal ( , ; ''Dactylopius coccus'') is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessility (motility), sessile parasitism, parasite native to tropical and subtropical Sout ...
, an insect which is used to create red and tishinda, a marine snail used to create purple. The Spanish also introduced glazed ceramics, the filigree method of making gold and silver jewelry and the working of new metals, especially tin and iron.[
By the 20th century, industrialization had chipped away at the production of handcrafts, especially for local use.][ For example, by 1965 in San Miguel del Valle, only a few old men still weaved the local wood, using natural dyes because the demand was so low. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, the construction of modern roadways, especially the ]Pan American Highway
The Pan-American Highway (french: (Auto)route panaméricaine/transaméricaine; pt, Rodovia/Auto-estrada Pan-americana; es, Autopista/Carretera/Ruta Panamericana) is a network of roads stretching across the Americas and measuring about in to ...
, allowed the development of a tourist industry, catering to those looking to explore traditional Mexico as well as the coastline. The modern Oaxacan handcraft industry took off, with its initial market being tourists. This led to an interest in traditional methods with the numbers of artisans multiplying, especially in textiles and ceramics from the 1960s to the late 1980s. By the end of this period, a number of communities’ economies had changed from agricultural to those based on one particular handcraft.[ The 20th century also saw some changes in technique, especially the use of synthetic dyes and paints and commercial thread, as well as lead-free glazes, but these have not completely replaced more traditional production.]
Today, Oaxacan handcrafts are heavily dependent on the tourist trade, including collectors who come to the area especially for handcrafts. This success has also translated into an increase in exports of products to various parts of the world, especially to the United States. The continued development of Oaxacan crafts is supported by both government and private entities. One method of doing this is to encourage younger generations to become craftsmen, with money for equipment and avenues to promote their merchandise such as contests. These efforts also include those outside of Mexico, such as a government-run outlet in Pasadena, California
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.
I ...
, financing for export by Bancomext
The Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior ( English: ''National Exterior Commerce Bank'') or "Bancomext" is a Mexican state-owned bank and export credit agency
An export credit agency (known in trade finance as an ECA) or investment insurance ...
and sales by groups such as the Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art
Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the traditional handcrafts and folk art of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, especially to encourage young artisans to continue family and regional traditions.
The organiz ...
. Handcraft traditions continue to evolve in the state, generally to cater to tourist and foreign tastes and include the creation of new products such as alebrijes.[ The Centro de Diseño Oaxaca has worked to join artisans and contemporary designers to create new products based on traditional techniques and to document the development of handcrafts and folk art in the state.]
The relationship of crafts to tourism has promoted the opening of a number of museums, generally in the Central Valleys area, to promote and education about the products. These include the Oaxaca Textile Museum (Museo Textile de Oaxaca) founded by the Alfredo Harp Foundation and has a permanent collection of over 1,000 pieces, including some that date from the 17th century.[ Another example is the state run ]Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca Museo may refer to:
* Museo, 2018 Mexican drama heist film
*Museo (Naples Metro)
Museo is a station on line 1 of the Naples Metro. It was opened on 5 April 2001 as the eastern terminus of the section of the line between Vanvitelli and Museo. ...
, which mostly focuses on the barro negro pottery produced in San Bartolo Coyotepec, but contains representative example of all major crafts traditions in the state.
Challenges
Oaxacan artisans are noted for the quality of their work and business success; however, the industry still faces challenges.[ There is little to no local demand for products because commercially made equivalents are cheaper and often easier to use. This means that artisans are almost completely dependent on tourism to keep traditions alive.][ The success of Oaxacan crafts has put strains on the availability of raw materials. One example of this is the over-exploitation of copal trees, whose soft wood is preferred by alebrije carvers.][ Another challenge is the introduction of cheaper imitations of products, generally from China. To date, few Mexican handcraft products have been eligible for certification guaranteeing authenticity.][
Although the promotion of handcrafts and folk art is a priority in the social and economic development of the state, there is still a lack of government support, often due to bureaucracy.][ Crafts that have a history in a town that dates back at least to the colonial period is more likely to receive support from government entities. Alebrijes is one exception.][
The dependency of crafts on the tourism trade means that disruption here has a disproportionate effect on the industry. The ]2006 Oaxaca protests
The Mexican state of Oaxaca was embroiled in a conflict that lasted more than seven months and resulted in at least seventeen deaths and the occupation of the capital city of Oaxaca by the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO). The con ...
severely curtailed tourism to Oaxaca and with it the sales of handcrafts, affecting one of the most vulnerable economic sectors of the state, with sales reduced during the uprising by up to 95% as shops in the historic center were forced to close. This meant that not only vendors in the city were affected but also handcraft producers throughout the Central Valleys who depend on sales in the capital. Political corruption and upheaval, such as the 2006 uprising, have had a negative effect on handcraft sales. The 2006 events hit the artisans hard because as small enterprises, they did not have the resources needed to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.[ Since tourism centers on the ]city of Oaxaca
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
, with relatively few venturing to the outlying areas where the products are made, many artisans are dependent on middlemen based in the city and often are in debt to them.[
Wood carving and weaving artisans have formed cooperatives and other organizations to continue to promote their work. However, not all artisans have been able to do this.][ Because of the difficulty in making a living, many artisans emigrate to the United States.][
]
Towns of the Central Valleys
Central Valleys
Handcraft creation is mostly concentrated in the Central Valleys, the Zapotec region of the state.[ This area has the highest degree of specialization and variety which includes ceramics, stiff fiber weaving (baskets), textiles of wool and cotton, stone work, wood work, the making of mezcal and leather work.][ Most crafts-producing communities in the area specialize in one type or sub-type of handcraft and most are located in or near the city of Oaxaca.][
Merchandise is manufactured for the tourist trade and sold through intermediaries mostly in the city of Oaxaca as relatively few tourists venture into the rural areas where the products are made.][ Those who do venture outside the capital visit larger producers such as the weaving town of Teotitlan del Valle, and the alebrije carving centers of Arrazola and Tilcajete.][ As the state center for handcraft distribution, there are numerous outlets including Mercado Benito Juarez, the Casa de las Artesanías de Oaxaca and the Jardín Labastida.][ Other important regional crafts market in the Central Valleys are the market of Miahuatlán, with stands selling traditional clothing, foods and baskets; the ]tianguis
A is an open-air market or bazaar that is traditionally held on certain market days in a town or city neighborhood in Mexico and Central America. This bazaar tradition has its roots well into the pre-Hispanic period and continues in many cases e ...
in Ayoguezco, specializing in furniture and other wood products; and the small market in Etla, specializing in dairy products.[
]
Teotitlan and surrounding communities
The weaving of wool was introduced to Oaxaca in the colonial period, but the specialization of rug making in Teotitlan del Valle and the surrounding communities dates to the development of weaving for the tourist trade. These products are commercialized mainly in Mexico and in fine galleries and other venues in the United States.[
The rugs are made in family workshops located in homes, with most workshops having three looms. Children learn the craft from a very young age, helping with the process with most having their own loom around age 12 to create small items such as bags and wall hangings. While the yarn used remains 100% wool, much of it is pre-dyed with commercial colorings.][ The craft has adapted in various ways to international trade in the designs used in the works. Some are called “commercial” as they are popular in markets rather than traditional, although traditional Zapotec designs can still be readily found.][ While most weavings are rugs, other products created here include blankets, pillows, director's chairs, handbags and wall hangings.][
Teotitlan is the main producer and marketing center for these wool textiles, making it one of the most prosperous indigenous communities that depends on a handcraft.][ Tourism to the town began in the 1970s, which gave it its status as an outlet for the even smaller communities around it.][ The town and surrounding communities still speak Zapotec and marketers have worked to project an image of a single Zapotec community (though the smaller communities tend to produce pieces that show variations). This marketing has led to a class system among the Zapotec in the area, with the middlemen in Teotitlan in tension with producers even before goods reach outside hands.][
The smaller communities that produce for sale in Teotitlán del Valle include ]Santa Ana del Valle
Santa Ana del Valle is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of km².
It is part of the Tlacolula District
Tlacolula District is located in the east of the Valles Centrales Region of the Stat ...
, San Miguel del Valle and Díaz Ordáz.[ In these communities as many as half are dedicated full-time to rug weaving.][
]
Atzompa and San Bartolo Coyotepec
Pottery making can be found in many parts of the state, but the two best-known centers are San Bartolo Coyotepec and Santa Maria Atzompa.[ Most of Oaxaca's pottery is made without potters’ wheels; instead it is produced with molds or formed by hand, sometimes using a kind of “proto-wheel”, which is a plate or shallow bowl place over an inverted bowl.][ Ceramics are one of Oaxaca's best known handicrafts in Mexico. The most common glazed pieces include those with base colors of brown and white, shaped into vases, plates, cups and decorative pieces. For utilitarian pieces, molds are most commonly used. For very large pieces, such as ]cantaro
The cantaro is a percussion instrument. It is a clay pot that is struck in its outer surface or mouth with a hand, creating different effects. Water can be used to pitch the instrument to a desired sound.
In Mexico, particularly in the states o ...
s and other storage containers, the molding is done in sections.[
San Bartolo Coyotepec is the home of barro negro (black clay) pottery, the most recognized type from the state.][ Barro negro is a non-glazed pottery, which gets its shine from burnishing, rubbing the dried piece before firing. It is almost exclusively made in the Coyotepec area. These pieces are also decorative and include lamps, large jars called cantaros, bells, masks, wall decorations and more.][ To encourage visitors, the town hosts the Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca museum and has a Mercado de Artesanias (artisans' market).]
Atzompa has been making pottery for at least 500 years. It is widely known for its traditional green glazed cookware and ornamental pieces. The glaze for the green pieces was originally lead-based but that was changed in the 1990s due to health concerns.[ The green glazed ware is mostly formed into utilitarian items such as pots, cazuelas (casserole dishes), jars, bowls and more. More recently, artisans in the town have been experimenting with various other styles of pottery, mostly decorative times in a variety of styles. One of these is called “pastillaje” where very small and fine pieces of clay are formed and pressed onto the main surface of the piece to create decoration.][ The town also has an outlet for its wares called the Casa de las Artesanias (House of the Artisans).][
]
Arrazola and Tilcajete
Today, wood in Oaxaca is worked into masks and furniture; there is no local market for wood carving, with all production done for sales to tourists and collectors.[ By far the most popular wood carving is the making of fantastic animal figures called alebrijes. These are mostly made in the towns of San Antonio Arrazola and San Martin Tilcajete, with some notable work done in ]La Unión Tejalapan
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
* "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...
.
Many buyers of alebrijes assume the works have a longer history in Mexico than they do.[ They were created in the 20th century, with the concept conceived by Mexico City ]cartonería
Cartonería or papier-mâché sculptures are a traditional handcraft in Mexico. The papier-mâché works are also called "carton piedra" (rock cardboard) for the rigidness of the final product. These sculptures today are generally made for certain ...
maker Pedro Linares
Pedro Linares López (29 June 1906 – 25 January 1992) was a Mexican artist born in Mexico City known for coining the word and the concept Alebrije and its plural form Alebrijes that are zoomorphic Cartonería figures.
Career
Pedro Linares ...
, who Oaxaca lore states emigrated from Arrazola to the capital.[
The Oaxaca version of alebrijes differ not only by being smaller and carved from wood, but the figures generally are more recognizable as a single animal such as lions, ]jaguar
The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus '' Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the th ...
s, iguana
''Iguana'' (, ) is a genus of herbivorous lizards that are native to tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his bo ...
s, dragons, dogs, snakes, rather than an amalgam of various animal parts. The reason for this is that there is a long Zapotec tradition of the carving of wooden figures.[ The first to develop Oaxaca alebrijes was ]Manuel Jiménez Ramírez
Manuel Jiménez Ramírez (9 June 1919 – 4 March 2005) was a Mexican carver, sculptor and painter credited as the originator of the Oaxacan version of “alebrijes,” animal creatures carved in wood and painted in strong contrasting colours wit ...
of Arrazola, who created them for over thirty years before his death, using soft copal wood which is still preferred. He then painted them in bright colors and with intricate designs.[ He was followed by Santos Pinos and then the craft spread to others in the town. It was similar in San Martín Tilcajete, where a few pioneering families started the trend there. The two towns originally began selling to tourists but eventually the pieces became collectors’ items that are now sold in shops and galleries in the US and other countries.][
]
Santo Tomás Jalietza
The town of Santo Tomás Jalieza
Santo Tomás Jalieza is a town and Municipalities of Oaxaca, municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.
It is part of the Ocotlán District, Oaxaca, Ocotlán District in the south of the Valles Centrales de Oaxaca, Valles Centrales Region.
...
specializes in cotton textiles, embroidered items and those woven with a backstrap loom such as blouses, sarape
The serape or jorongo is a long blanket-like shawl/cloak, often brightly colored and fringed at the ends, worn in Mexico, especially by men. The spelling of the word sarape (or zarape) is the accepted form in Mexico and in other Spanish-spea ...
s (shawls), other traditional clothing and tablecloths.[
It has been known for its backstrap loom works for at least 400 years, with most of its production in the colonial period sold locally, especially to communities in the Sierra de Villa Alta.]
Since the early 20th century the producers in Jalieza have organized to produce and market their wares. The number of craftspeople in Jalieza has increased since the 1940s, and especially since the 1960s when the paving of the highway through the municipality brought tourism. The demand for the textiles by the 1970s was great enough that even men began to participate in what is traditionally women's work, but only inside the home and in private. However, the most successful textiles produced by the community are not the most traditional; instead they are pieces which have been modified to be more attractive to outside markets. Today the quantity and quality of pieces is regulated and promoted collectively, mostly through the Unión de Artesanos. It works to introduce new designs, create new markets and fix prices for merchandise. Then the market was completed in 1970, sales of textiles concentrated there. Many families have specialized in certain garments or other pieces.[
]
Basket making communities
Not all crafts are internationally known or collected. One such is the weaving of baskets.[ This craft is mostly practiced in very small communities in the Central Valleys region, where reeds grow abundantly along riverbanks. In addition to traditional baskets for carrying, the reeds are also fashioned into bird cages, lamps, candy dishes and screens/curtains.][ Towns best known for this activity include Etla, ]Ocotlán de Morelos
Ocotlán de Morelos is a town and municipality in the state of Oaxaca, about 35 km south of the center of the city of Oaxaca along Highway 175.
It is part of the Ocotlán District in the south of the Valles Centrales Region. The area was a ...
, Tlacolula, Santa Cruz Papalutla, Santa Ana del Valle, Villa Diaz Ordaz and San Miguel del Valle.[
As these areas are not generally visited by tourists, the main outlets for baskets is the Centro de Abastos (wholesale food market) in the city of Oaxaca and the Sunday ]tianguis
A is an open-air market or bazaar that is traditionally held on certain market days in a town or city neighborhood in Mexico and Central America. This bazaar tradition has its roots well into the pre-Hispanic period and continues in many cases e ...
in Tlacolula.[ This craft has not been promoted by governmental and other entities, as other crafts have been, and which is crucial to creating a wider market and to adapting the craft to modern tastes.][ For this reason, and the fact that the local market is dwindling, the craft is in decline. One reason for the non-support of basket making is that the product is associated with rural areas rather than modern urban ones.][
]
Octolán de Morelos
One exception to the specialization to one type of handcraft is the town of Octolán de Morelos, location south of the city of Oaxaca. The best known of the town's handcrafts is its pottery, the making of which is dominated by women. The best known potters are the Aguilar family
The Aguilar Family is a Native American family of potters from Santo Domingo Pueblo (currently known as Kewa Pueblo), New Mexico, United States. The group consisting of two sisters, Felipita Aguilar Garcia, Asuncion Aguilar Cate, and their siste ...
, dominated by sisters Josefina, Guillermina, Irene and Concepción who create fanciful multicolored figurines.
Ocotlán is noted for its production of hand-crafted knives and other blades.[ ]Apolinar Aguilar Velasco
Apolinar Aguilar Velasco is a traditional blacksmith who lives and works in the southern Mexican town of Ocotlán de Morelos, Oaxaca. Although there is a tradition of making blades in the town, the Aguilar workshop is the only one that still makes ...
is one of the best-known for making knives, swords, machetes and the like using the same techniques as those used in the 16th century. Aguilar began making blades when he was ten, taught by his father and uncle. He is now teaching the craft to the next generation.
Tlacolula de Matamoros
Tlacolula is a small city east of the state capital. It is also known for various cottage industries especially the production of mezcal
Mezcal (, ), sometimes spelled mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave. The word ''mezcal'' comes from Nahuatl , which means "oven-cooked agave", from and .What is MezcalElmezcal.org Traditionally the word "m ...
and wrought iron, but also for some textiles.[ While mezcal is produced all over Oaxaca, Tlacolula is considered the center of production.][ The beverage is made from various types of maguey plant such as tobalá, espadín and arroquense, either found wild or cultivated. The drink comes in a number of varieties, depending on the maguey used, the roasting and fermentation processes used and the aging. Although not all types use it, the “worm” in the bottle (really a larva) is associated with mezcal, not tequila. Mezcal is bottled straight or combined with flavorings to create cream style liquors.][
Metal is also worked in the city, especially tin and iron, which were introduced by the Spanish. Tin in worked in mostly decorative items such as mirror frames and figures. Iron is worked into knives, daggers and other blades, machetes, tableware. Tlacolula is particularly noted for its production of wrought iron railings for buildings.][
]
Other communities
There is not much production of handcrafts in the city of Oaxaca itself. One exception to this is the working of sheet metal, which was established in the colonial period. The metal is mostly used for the making of candle holders and frames for windows and mirrors, along with fantasy figures and Christmas decorations.[ The Xochimilco neighborhood of the city is known for the production of tablecloths, napkins and other such linens.][
In Valle de Etla, one group of indigenous residents has taken to collecting old tires found on the highway and have begun converting them into handcrafts. The craft idea began with Esteban Perada, originally from Santiago Suchilquitongo. Originally he used them to support washers and retaining walls and car bumpers. Getting creative, he found a way to convert a tire into a toucan design to hang flowerpots, painting it bright colors. Others liked it and requested the item for their gardens. Since then he and others have created other figures such as parrots, squirrels and more, selling enough to supplement family income.]
The town of San Juan Teitipac
San Juan Teitipac is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 11.48 km².
It is part of the Tlacolula District
Tlacolula District is located in the east of the Valles Centrales Region of ...
makes stone products, but two of their traditional product, mutates and molcajetes, have mostly been replaced by blenders and mixers.[
]
Other parts of the state
There are artisans in other parts of the state, although they are not as well known.
The state has a wide variety of textile traditions, with many communities having distinctive styles of dress and designs.[ The Chinateca region in the north of the state is known for its unique huipil designs, made by the local Chinanteca and ]Mazatec people
The Mazatec are an indigenous people of Mexico who inhabit the Sierra Mazateca in the state of Oaxaca and some communities in the adjacent states of Puebla and Veracruz.
Language family
The Mazatecan languages are part of the Popolocan family wh ...
s. Each town has its own variations and there are three types of huipils, those for everyday use, semi formal and formal.
Wrought iron and other metal work is found in the towns of Tlaxiaco
Tlaxiaco is a city, and its surrounding municipality of the same name, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is located in the Tlaxiaco District in the south of the Mixteca Region, with a population of about 17,450.
The city is formally known as Her ...
in the west and Santa Catarina Juquila
Santa Catarina Juquila is a town in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, and is the seat of the municipality also called Santa Catarina Juquila.
It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.
The name "Juquila" comes from "Xuhquilill ...
and Santiago Jamiltepec
Santiago Jamiltepec (Mixtec: Casandoo) is a town, and the seat of surrounding municipality of the same name, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
It is located in the Jamiltepec District in the west of the Costa Chica Region, 30 km east of Pinot ...
in the southwest of the state, generally practical items such as knives. The last is known for a local style of machete
Older machete from Latin America
Gerber machete/saw combo
Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San Agustín de las Juntas, Oaxaca">San_Agustín_de_las_Juntas.html" ;"title="Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San Agustín de las Juntas">Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San ...
.[
The Tehuantepec area produces an orange-colored pottery, which is highly resistant to breakage and generally used for tile, flowerpots and other heavy duty items. For decorative items, pastillaje is also use to add flowers and other foliage and may be fired a second time to affix coloring.][ In Juchitan, wares include traditional local dress for men and women, clay dolls and masks, key chains, local candies and mezcal. Most Juchitan artisans must rely on intermediaries to get products to market. However, over fifty workshops in the Juchitan area has banded into a cooperative to promote their products, especially in May when the city hold its regional fair which attracts many visitors. The group also works to have products available at other events in the state, especially during the main tourist seasons.][
Gold and silver jewelry is produced in the Tehuantepec area, both through the filigree method introduced by the Spanish as well as hand-hammered pieces. One local variety of jewelry is made from antique gold coins. Filigree and hammered pieces are also produced in ]Huajuapan de León
Heroica Ciudad de Huajuapan de León ( mix, Ñuu dee, meaning ''Place of Brave People'') is a city with a surrounding municipality located in the northwestern part of the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
It is part of the Huajuapan District in the north ...
, often reproductions of jewelry found in Monte Albán
Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca (17.043° N, 96.767°W). The site is located on a low mountainous range rising above the plain in the ...
and other archeological sites.[
The weaving of palm fronds is most commonly done in the tropical Mixtec region of the state in the west and includes hats, mats, flower vases and small purses. The most noted community for this work is Tlaxiaco, which also makes fine textiles and linens.][
Most leatherwork can be found in ]Ejutla de Crespo
Ejutla de Crespo is a city and a municipality of the same name, in the central valleys of the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
It is part of the Ejutla District in the south of the Valles Centrales Region.
"Ejutla" is from the Nahuatl ''exotl'' and '' ...
and Jalatlaco, whose products are exported to other countries. Notable pieces include scabbards for machetes, saddles, wallets, belts, portfolios and more. The leather is made from the skins of local animals. Leather pieces such as belts and bags can be found embroidered with ixtle fiber, which is extracted from maguey leaves.[
Coffee is grown and processed in the mountain areas near the coast, especially in the municipalities of ]Santa María Huatulco
Santa María Huatulco is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.
It is part of the Pochutla District in the east of the Costa Region.
The meaning of Huatulco, or Guatulco Coatulco is, "where they worship the tree", referring ...
, Pluma Hidalgo
Pluma Hidalgo is a town and Municipalities of Mexico State, municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 179.9 km2. It is part of the Pochutla District, Oaxaca, Pochutla District in the east of the Cost ...
, Candelaria Loxicha
Candelaria Loxicha is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 86.8 km².
It is part of the Pochutla District in the east of the Costa Region
The Costa Region or Costa Chica lies on the Pacif ...
, San Miguel del Puerto
San Miguel del Puerto is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 488.6 km².
It is part of the Pochutla District in the east of the Costa Region
The Costa Region or Costa Chica lies on the ...
, San Mateo Piñas, Santiago Xanica, and San Pedro Pochutla
San Pedro Pochutla is a city and municipality located in the south of Oaxaca state, Mexico next to the Pacific Ocean.
It is an important commercial, transportation and administrative hub for the Pochutla District in the east of the Costa Region. ...
. This tradition dates from the 17th century when the coffee plant was introduced by English pirates, later developed in the 20th century by German immigrants.[
]
Notable artisans
*Carlomagno Pedro Martínez
Carlomagno Pedro Martínez (born August 17, 1965) is a Mexican artist and artisan in “ barro negro” ceramics from San Bartolo Coyotepec, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He comes from a family of potters in a town noted for the craft. He bega ...
* Doña Rosa
*Aguilar family (Oaxacan potters)
The Aguilar family of Ocotlán de Morelos are from a rural town in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. This town produced only utilitarian items until Isaura Alcantara Diaz began creating decorative figures with her husband Jesus Aguila Revilla. The cou ...
* Blanco family (Oaxacan potters)
*José García Antonio José García Antonio (born August 10, 1947) is a Mexican potter from San Antonio Castillo Velasco in the municipality of Ocotlán, Oaxaca, a town noted for its handcrafts. He still has is house and workshop there, located beyond the church behind ...
*Fortunato Hernández Bazán Fortunato Hernández Bazán is a Mexican artisan from San Pedro Cajonos, Oaxaca in southern Mexico, who specializes in items made from ixtle fiber. He has been recognized as a “grand master” by the Fomento Cultural Banamex for his work .
Ixtl ...
*Manuel Jiménez Ramírez
Manuel Jiménez Ramírez (9 June 1919 – 4 March 2005) was a Mexican carver, sculptor and painter credited as the originator of the Oaxacan version of “alebrijes,” animal creatures carved in wood and painted in strong contrasting colours wit ...
* Agustín Cruz Tinoco
*Apolinar Aguilar Velasco
Apolinar Aguilar Velasco is a traditional blacksmith who lives and works in the southern Mexican town of Ocotlán de Morelos, Oaxaca. Although there is a tradition of making blades in the town, the Aguilar workshop is the only one that still makes ...
*Josefina Aguilar
Josefina Aguilar (born 1945) is a Mexican folk artist from Ocotlán de Morelos, Oaxaca. A member of the Aguilar family, she is best known for her small clay figurines called ''muñecas'' (dolls), an artform she learned from her mother. Aguilar ...
*Arnulfo Mendoza
Arnulfo Mendoza Ruiz (August 17, 1954 – March 7, 2014) was an artist and weaver, who exhibited his work both in Mexico and abroad. Born in Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, a well-known center for traditional Zapotec peoples, Zapotec weaving, he be ...
* Teodora Blanco Núñez
*Jacobo Angeles
Jacobo Angeles (born March 14, 1973) is a Mexican artisan from San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca who is known for his hand carved and distinctly painted alebrije figures. The town is noted for its production of these figures which generally are carvi ...
References
{{Crafts of Mexico
Mexican folk art
Handcrafts and folk art
Articles containing video clips