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Introduction
Village Life
The Rugs and Blankets
Endangered Tradition
Authenticity and Availability
Introduction
The rugs and blankets you see on this site come
from a small Mayo Indian village in the State of Sonora, Mexico. Photography is
my passion, and I travel far to capture the
faces and spirit of native Mexicans. (Click here for more information about
the photography.) Some of the places I visit
are not recommended for inexperienced travelers to Mexico, but I have native Mexican
friends who go along to help me.
Village
Life
One of these places I visit in Sonora is in a very remote location, but my friend, Francisco Valenzuela-Gamez,
showed me a shortcut - through
the
country and across a river. There is no bridge across the river so if
the water is up, you can go no further unless you
wade with a rope (crossline) or ride a horse.
Upon arrival at the village, my Mayo Indian friends are always glad to see me, offer
goat
cheese, homemade tortillas, and a cup of coffee.  They heat water on an
open wood fire to make their coffee. In spite of
their poverty, they maintain a wonderful sense of humor,
incredible dignity and self-respect. They make everything they can, including blankets and
rugs, and raise as much food as possible in the
harsh environment. They raise some goats, a few sheep and corn and beans
in a small milpa (field). To
obtain pots, pans, spices, and other essentials,
they make and sell rugs and blankets the traditional way. The nice woman in the above photograph
has lost her family since I took this photograph, and is now alone. Her
husband died from diabetes. After the funeral one of her sons committed
suicide and two months later her other son was killed in a vehicle crash.
The
Rugs and Blankets
The Mayos make their own yarn, and most of the
large areas are woven from natural colors.
For other colors they make dye, using urine to set the dye. They
spend many hours sitting at the “loom” throwing the balls of yarn across,
talking of the events of the day and so forth. 
They use wooden tools,
although a few have things
that look like whale bones to shuttle the yarn across to
make patterns. Not having set “hours,” they work around
their lifestyle, a culture of patient survival. It is
difficult to determine the exact amount of time
needed to complete a rug, but from my observations and questions,
I estimate it takes, on average, four weeks each. The woman in this
photograph is still living. She is around 96 years old. Her name
is Buena Ventura Mendoza.
 The “blankets”
they weave are thicker and larger, designed to fit a homemade Mayo bed,
and are beautifully unique as well. The
traditional thematic pattern indigenous to this area is the mariposa (butterfly). 
Occasionally they will weave in a duck or a deer, but they are usually
a little goofy looking. Each rug or blanket is unique and is not planned
in advance. Because they are imperfect, they are identifiable to the
experienced eye. One of my favorites is a simple natural
white with two asymmetrical shades of dark brown.
I love to imagine the discussions that resulted
when they realized they had run out of the dark-brown batch. t
Endangered
Tradition
 Their
trade is increasingly difficult because of the commercial varieties
now mass produced. Of course, the factory-made
rugs are more uniform, more brightly
colored, can have complex patterns, are easily available to tourists, and
are relatively inexpensive. I believe the days of this ancient,
traditional Indian weaving will
soon end and be lost, just as the setting sun
turns the day to darkness. The person in this photograph is around 80
years old. Her family lived outside, under a tree, for several years of
their life.
Authenticity
and Availability
I certify the rug or blanket you buy will be authentic and hand-woven by the person
in
the photograph you will also receive. I provide you with provenance for
collectability.
The weavers produce one piece and keep
it until it is sold before they start on another. Continued production
depends on availability of materials and demand. A large rug or
blanket may take four to six weeks to produce. Therefore, the
production rate has been a maximum of about four rugs per month from this little village.
Lately, demand has been next to nothing and combined with the long drought,
sheep wool has been hard to get and especially difficult to get in good
quality. Several weavers have abandoned the craft as of this year.
Broken Spear
on-hand stock is limited to the rugs
and blankets pictured here and not marked "Sold." The site will be updated as changes in stock
occur. Thanks for your interest in
this unique and important craft.
*For
information on the music featured on this page, please click here.
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