New Indian Rugs

For a long time "Indian rugs" have been synonymous with Navahos.

Today, with Navaho rugs becoming costlier and increasingly hard to find, a number of alternatives have been surfacing in the marketplace.

Imitations are being sold from Belgium. Mexican artisans have been the most involved, turning out Navaho lookalikes. The bulk of them look to be just what they are--imitations.

Appearing in the marketplace, however, are some finely woven rugs, table mats and pillows that have a character of their own, even equaling the Navaho work in craftsmanship. They are the original weavings of the Zapotec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The Zapotecs are descendants of a 2,000-year-old civilization that predates the Aztecs. They name themselves 'indigenos,' the indigenous people. Although they live in Mexico their language is Zapotec.

They were the first Indians conquered by the Spanish; and therefore seem to have been the first to use wool in their work since the Spanish introduced wool to the western hemisphere.

The Navahos weave vertically and the Zapotecs weave horizontally. Otherwise the work of the two tribes is quite similar. The best of the Zapotec work is accomplished in wool from sheep raised by the Indians, hand- carded and hand-dyed within the family.

Usually the children tend the sheep and they do the carding of the wool. The mother dyes the wool, employing natural dyes such as reds from the larvae of beetles. The man of the house is responsible for the weaving.

The wool fresh from the family's flocks or those of neighbors is carefully hand-washed and carded to get rid of burrs before weaving is begun. Individual vats are set up for each color. At times as many as 30 colors will be used in a single work. The dyed wool is then hung to dry out in the sun. Each color is twined around small spools and then used on Spanish-type treadle looms.

While many men adhere to traditional patterns, an increasing number of weavers are learning to go beyond the original and produce their own ideas.

The rugs are being utilised both as distinctive wall hangings and floor coverings. The small pieces often used as table pieces are sometimes woven by children. Some of the pillows have winsome animals and fish.

The weavings go well with contemporary furnishings, with Southwest interiors and in certain eclectic settings.