Maya of San Andrés Larráinzar
The Tzotzil-speaking town of San Andrés Larráinzar has
one of the oldest and most stable weaving traditions in the Chiapas
Highlands. The main motifs of San Andrés, especially the grand design and
the toad, are reminiscent of the patterns used by the Ancient Maya of
Yaxchilán, a city of the Classic Maya Period (300-900 A.D.) in lowland
Chiapas. As members of the Chiapas weaver's cooperative, Sna Jolobil , the
women of San Andrés collect and study old textiles and give classes in the
ancient art of natural dyes. Like the Tzeltal-speaking weavers of Tenejapa,
the women of San Andrés are leaders in the revival of Chiapas brocade
(above right) Rosha Hernandez at a meeting of the Sna Jolobil, comparing natural dye colors.
Textile Design

(above left) Detail of a huipil showing Grand Design.
(above right) Detail of a huipil showing Earthlord design.
(above right) White cotton bag brocaded in red, blue, orange and green cotton.
Maya of Highland Chiapas
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