Equipal furniture is the key to southwest Mexican rustic home decor. But what exactly is Equipal furniture? Literally, Equipal means chair for the gods in an ancient native language. Before the Spanish landed in Mexico, upper class Aztec homes featured Equipal furniture, which combines wood and pigskin leather. This type of handcrafted furniture is now popular in Mexican homes and restaurants, and is becoming increasingly popular in homes in the United States. Each piece of Equipal furniture is unique, comfortable, and durable.
Talavera and Black Pottery
Equipal furniture sets the scene for decorative pottery for the southwest Mexican rustic home decor. Hand painted Talavera pottery combines Spanish design with far eastern inspirations. Only a handful of Mexican artisans still practice the craft that was brought to the New World by European craftsmen. The colorful natural designs use vibrant earth tones to depict flowers, animals, and fertility symbols as well as modern themes and exquisite new styles. The tradition of Talavera pottery is used to craft candlestick figurines, pitchers, lidded containers, vases, and decorative statuary.
Black pottery comes from a more modern technique. A handsome burnished patina is the result of an exhaustive process of molding, decorating, drying, and baking handcrafted clay pieces.
Tin Mirrors and Light Covers
No Mexican decor is complete without a tin mirror for the hall, bedroom, or living room. Some of these unique, handmade mirrors have punched tin frames, while others are framed in colorful tiles made from Talavera or other pottery.
Themed metal mirrors bring Mexican motifs into the home decor. Wolves, buffalos, cactus, and mule deer are delightful reminders of the Mexican natural world.
Punched tin sconce light covers and candleholders allow light to shine through the holes in the tin, creating a warm and interesting ambiance. Sconce covers made from clay and Talavera tile give similar effects.
Mexican Glassware
The tradition of hand blown glass in Mexico dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish artisans brought their craft to the New World. Many of the traditional designs, such as the margarita blue rim drinking glasses, have colored rims on clear glass. Pitchers and flower vases made in this style are beautifully shaped with colored lips and handles. The bubble glass style results in unique pieces of glassware.
Hand blown vases, bowls, and glassware combine traditional artistry with contemporary designs and colors.
Unique Decorative Pieces
Replicas of pre-Columbian pottery reflect the community life of these early times. Dancing dogs, clay masks, circle of friends pottery, animal statuary, and healing power circles are unique one-of-a-kind pieces created by skilled artisans trained in the ancient methods of pottery-making.
Complete Mexican Home Decor
Paint your walls a rich earth tone and cover your floors with hand woven rugs. Furnish with Equipal chairs, tables, and couches. Now add Mexican glassware, Talavera pottery, traditional statuary, tin and tile mirrors, and clay sconce covers. Turn on the Mexican ska music, serve up the salsa and cervesa, and dress in bright colors. That's all you need for a complete southwest Mexican rustic home decor.
