Guatemala, Multicolores, “The Legend of the Two Headed Eagle” Rug

“The Legend of the Two Headed Eagle” Extra Large Rug by Yolanda Churunel Ajú 

This hand-hooked rug was designed and crafted by Yolanda Churunel Ajú, member of the Chuacruz rug-hooking group. Yolanda lives in Chuacruz, Sololá, a rural Kaqchiquel Maya community in the highlands of Guatemala. Yolanda describes her inspiration for this design: “The Two-Headed Eagle is a powerful creature from the folklore of my community. It’s said that in the time of our ancestors, these beautiful but fearsome birds lived among us in the mountains and hills. They were so strong that they could snatch a sheep in each claw. The legend of these awe-inspiring birds lives on in our weavings, where the geometric gure of the two-headed eagle is often found. The two-headed eagle also symbolizes the dual nature of our lives, simultaneously looking toward the past and toward the future. In this work, I wanted to honor the power of the two-headed eagle and its importance in our legends and traditions.”

The artists of Multicolores began learning the rug-hooking technique in 2011. Rug-hooking is a traditional folk art not native to Guatemala. In their design process, artists blend ancestral motifs drawn from backstrap weavings, inspiration from the natural world, and their own imagination. The resulting textile artworks evoke both their Maya heritage and their contemporary, individual creative voice. This piece is unique and the design is entirely the result of the artist's creative vision. Dimensions: 91cm x 152cm 

Fibre: This rug is made from recycled secondhand clothing, known in Guatemala as 'paca,' on hand-woven cotton base cloth, with a hand-stitched binding. This rug was made using 60-70 recycled garments, which are washed and cut into strips before being incorporated in the design. Material is not dyed during the making process. Recycled materials retain their original color. 

This rug takes approximately 2 months to complete. 

Stock level: 1 (one-of-a-kind item)