Ayaucho Tapestry

“Ayacucho” tapestry was initially woven in Santa Ana, a suburb of the city of Ayacucho (Central sierra – Southern Peru). During the 1970's and 80's, the activity of the Communist "Shining Path" caused many of the weavers to move to the safety of Lima, the capital of Peru. These days, even though this type of tapestry is woven in many areas of the country, it is still recognized as “Ayacucho” in style.

The refined artistry of the Ayacucho weave, inherited from the Incas, is achieved using a double-pedalled loom. The wool is died in big cauldrons over an open wood fire. Natural dyes are used for the clear hues and industrial ones for the darker hues. The artisan or weaver works according to a predetermined sketch that is then carefully finished by hand. Ayacucho textiles are 95% wool and 5% cotton. 90% of the dyes used are natural, extracted from the region’s flora, and the remaining 10% are artificial colours.

Many of the traditional designs are geometric in nature, taken from stone temple carvings and Codices (talking picture books of the ancient Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs).

A work of resplendent artistry for the admirer of pre-Hispanic civilizations