Chiishbeuu: with the blessing of the moon
$ 8,600.00
Size: 80x150cm; 2.6'x5ft
Weaver: Dionisio from San Miguel del Valle
Price: $420 USD
Materials and methods: criollo sheep wool hand dyed with natural dyes: Xiuhquilitl (indigofera suffroticosa). Handwoven on a Zapotec style loom of the 16th century adapted from European styles. Woven using a 7 threads per inch reed and wool rayon blend for warp.
Design, patterns and symbols.
This rug was inspired in the Quiote of the agave plant, the stalk that growns only after the plant reaches maturity. Maturity in agave plants occurs after 6-7 years of growth on the Espadin species, but it can take up to 35 years to reach maturity in the Tepextate species; this is probably the reason why certain agaves became known as century plants by Europeans.
We know that the moon has an effect on the growth of plants and all water based life on earth, this design depicts the full moon as it moves over the stalk of the agave (shown as a rectanlge in the design).
The word for cheers in Dixzaa (Zapotec) language is Chiish beuu; chiish comes from Di'ish wich means words, beuu means moon. Chish beuu could be interpreted as "with the word of blessing/permision from the moon" because we know how that the moon governs liquids on earth and Mezcal or Pulque being a sacred elixir, they requires utmost respect when drinking them.
