Oaxaca is known for its strong artistic heritage. The richness, quality, variety, and prices of its handicrafts make it a tourist attraction. These handicrafts are unique because they are hand made and not mass produced. They includes stonework, tannery, leatherwork, tin ware, pottery, jewellery, cotton textiles, wool tapestries and artefacts made of black clay.

Oaxacan Pottery

Bruñido Pottery is delicately colored, precisely painted and has a intricately stylized design. The beauty and imaginative appeal of the designs and colors make it irresistible. Production includes casserole dishes, plates cups, fruit bowls, glazed tiles, jugs, pitchers, pots, vases, jars, tea sets, toys and other decorative articles.

Black pottery is made with the traditional techniques. The beauty of this pottery is accomplished by a long process of several working days by Zapotec craftsmen, thus giving it the unique final touch. Santa Maria Atzompa is a village where craftsmen create the Glassy Pottery through a long and precise process, using a primitive technique that does not use any mold. San Pedro Tlapazola a small town in the high valleys of the Mixteca region is said to be the origin of the Orange Pottery. The manufacturer of this pottery is the most important activity of the families who live in this town.

The manufacturing techniques applied to pottery in Oaxaca are completely primitive using only the traditional techniques and due to urbanization it seems to be losing ground as very few young people are leaning this wonderful art.

Alebrijes

Alebrijes wood carving is an ancestral Zapotec tradition. These are hand carvings and paintings of fantastic figures and confusing shapes born out of the imagination of the Oaxaqueño craftsmen. The perfect finish makes them unique and are considered as pieces of art. Manuel Jiménez was the man responsible for the beginnings of this particular artwork.

The materials used in these figures are green branches of trees from the mountains. It is said that the shapes of the branches found on treetops is what inspired the craftsmen make these fantastic and imaginary characters. Using only machetes and razors they would also make figures of animals like lions, jaguars, iguanas, dogs, snakes and birds. This handicraft can be found mostly in San Martín Tilcajete and San Antonio Arrazola, two towns in Oaxaca.

 

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