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.
Please
note that additional info (prices, activities, etc) are
found to the right of this pages. 
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.
