Zapotec rugs are gorgeous hand-crafted rugs by the Zapotec Indians from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. These hand-made rugs are known around the world for their traditional craftsmanship, bright colors, and classic styles. Native rugs are a wonderful southwestern accessory for use in rustic homes and cabins, southwestern homes, or anywhere you would like to add color and elegance. They look great when used on living room and bedroom floors, and also make fantastic Native style wall tapestries for complementary design on your walls. As with the Navajo rug of North America, Zapotec rugs make it simple to get great Native design style in any room of your home.

Studying the history of Zapotec rug making gives you a full appreciation of the time consuming work of weaving rugs. The Zapotec Indians, an ancient people with no known stories of migration, believed themselves to be born of nature. They were primarily farmers until the 1500s, when they were presented with new forms of weaving by the Spanish. As well as with the weaving loom, the Spanish transported the first European sheep to Mexico and taught the Zapotec how to weave. The state of Oaxaca is where the world-famous rug making began and still continues today.

The bright colors and patterns are the first thing you will notice about Zapotec weavings. Although some rug artists have started to use more modern types of dyes, many still use the traditional and natural elements from the area to dye their wool. When passing by the home of an Oaxacan rug artist throughout the day, you might see them mixing wool in big pots of rich colored dye, over an open fire. Some of the things used to dye the wool come from nature. Perhaps one of the most interesting dyes they use is derived from the cochineal, an insect known to the area. After drying the insect, it is then pulverized to make a rich red dye.

Rug weaving often involves the whole family, with each person taking part in the production of an exquisite rug. The wool must first be cleaned and washed, dyed, and then spun into yarn before the weaving process begins. You will find it very fascinating that each rug has a unique design and is an exquisite masterpiece of the artist. The fact that no two rugs have the same design is one of the reasons for their rising popularity. Zapotec rugs are excellent for Indian art collectors that like original pieces, or for those who appreciate Indigenous arts and crafts and rustic home decor.

No matter how you choose to use your Indian rug, whether as a stylish floor rug, or as a Native style wall hanging or tapestry, you will certainly admire the quality design of these Indian rugs. With such a variety to choose from, you will easily find the best style to match your interior. Although you might come across Zapotec rugs or similar style southwest rugs in stores that sell home decor, you will probably find lower prices online. Add great character to your southwest or western style home, with the unique design and elegance that is characteristic of Zapotec rugs.