Zia Traders is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Huichol Indian culture through the sale of their art. Zia Traders, formerly "Sailing Traders" works with six extended families of Huichol bead artists and several yarn painters who live in and around Tepic, capital of the state of Nayarit, Mexico. These outstanding artists produce unique one of a kind artwork, both traditional and contemporary, on an ongoing basis. NO TWO PIECES ARE IDENTICAL.
This folk art, with its roots in pre-Columbian times, is based on the shamanistic religion of the Huichol people. Beaded gourd bowls decorated with god and animal symbolism were the first pieces created in this manner, pre-dating the introduction of glass beads by European missionaries.
As more of the contemporary world becomes aware of this Native American art form, many of the Wixaraca (“Huichol” in the Huichol language) are expanding their artistic talent to include other than traditional base materials-to apply beads and yarn to pottery and ceramic pieces, metal-based work, animal skulls--all in addition to their more traditional work: carved wood jaguar heads, egg-shaped ornaments, animal figures and the gourd bowls.
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