The City of Oaxaca, and The Mercado de Artesanias

The Tabachin Tree

In the City of Oaxaca, The Mercado de Artesanias or Artist Market is the one-stop shopping location for a huge verity of moderately priced handcrafts of the region….such as textiles, weavings and other hand-made items.

Starting with the Juarez Market, one block off the Zocalo, walking down Calle 20 de Noviembre, you will pass a verity of small venders displaying a wide selection of goods from many of the villages from the areas surrounding the City of Oaxaca.

Walking on past the food court / market…you will then come upon the alluring aromas of the Chocolate companies that have helped to make Oaxaca such a wonderful culinary experience.

After tearing yourself away from the samples, and purchasing the Cinnamon-chocolate that makes the best hot chocolate in the world, you will turn to the right and proceed to the corner of J P Garcia & Zaragoza, and the Mercado de Artesanies.

Handmade Bedspreads and Table Cloths

Located in a cavernous barn of a building, The Mercardo de Artesanias will soon overwhelm you with the variety and quantity of crafts on display.

There are stalls upon stalls of bedspreads, table cloths, place mats and napkins. Other stalls of handmade baby’s and children’s cloths ( hundreds of items to choose from ) . Women’s blouses, skirts, dresses, hats & scarfs…men’s shirts, hats, and drawstring pants. If you don’t see the color, design, or size you want…just ask, and out from under the counter will come hundreds more to choose from !

Difficult to purchase just one item !

All completely hand made !

Each stall seem to have more goods than the one before

More-More-and More !!!

Also in The Mercardo de Artesnias  you will find a vast selection of hand crafted TIN Christmas ornaments, picture frames, hanging lanterns and mirror surrounds.

Other items to be found in abundance are mystical, hand carved and brightly painted wooden animals, frames and assorted decorative items.

Wood carvings and other handcrafts abound

YES! There is a lot more than this !

This Mercardo de Artesanias is a good starting place to get a hands  on visual overview of the vast variety of hand crafted items produced in the Oaxaca Valley and the villages in the surrounding mountains.

Also, a  quick education of what to look for in the abundance of ” high-End ” shops and galleries located throughout the City of  Oaxaca. …where you might find that perfect, one of a kind piece, to complement your home decor.

The Mercardo de Artesanias is the  perfect place to pick up those easy to pack gift items that you friends and family will enjoy for some time to come.

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These pictures show the looms on which the bedspreads, table cloths and assorted piece goods are made. Note the age of these looms…they must have been in use for many years.

Note the bedspread on the loom.

Looms for weaving bedspreads

Used for weaving textiles

Below are some samples of what can be created on these old looms.

All hand made

Handmade on the old looms

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For more info on The City of Oaxaca on the web:

http://www.go-oaxaca.com/overview/index.html

I hope you have enjoyed this very SMALL peek at the City of Oaxaca, Mexico