Villa Progreso, in the municipality of Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro, is a community where manual trades continue to be an important part of daily life. Many families have dedicated entire generations to working with ixtle and ceramics, learning these techniques from an early age and transmitting them from generation to generation. Thanks to this continuity, the workshops of the place have preserved artisanal processes that depend entirely on the skill of the craftsman, without resorting to industrial methods.
Have you ever wondered how many maguey stalks it takes to create a single ixtle rug?
It is thanks to the manual defibering process, and the resulting bundles, known as machines, which are placed in the workshop, both for use in production and to show the work to visitors.
After cleaning and drying the fiber, it is transformed into threads that will be used to make rugs, mats, ayates, bows and other decorative items. The entire procedure is carried out manually, taking care of every detail to ensure that the fiber retains its strength and quality. Thanks to this meticulous work, each piece reflects the artisanal value of ixtle.
Although there are modern tools, in the community some artisans are the ones who continue to rely on the so-called traditional looms, as in the case of the artisan Aurelia de Ixartte, operated entirely by hand. It is one of the main bases of ixtle production.
Ixartte: a workshop dedicated to ixtle
Ixartte is a space specialized in the elaboration of handicrafts made with maguey fiber. The process begins with the extraction of the fiber, which is then dried and organized into bundles that allow the formation of threads and loops. These supplies are used to make rugs, bags, decorative figures, scouring pads, ayates, piñatas and other characteristic products of the workshop.
In addition to making handicrafts, the workshop offers tours where all the stages of the process are shown, from obtaining the fiber to the finished piece. The natural pigments used to give color are also explained, which are obtained from flowers, bark and plants. The workshop was founded by Cecilia Guzmán and Juan Mendoza, and is currently run by their daughter, Aurelia Mendoza Guzmán, who continues with the family trade.
Maguey Art: Tradition in the Making of Ixtle
Arte Maguey is directed by Isaías Mendoza, a member of the fourth generation of artisans in his family. Since the early 2000s, the workshop has focused on the extraction of maguey fiber and the elaboration of products such as mirrors, brushes, bags, rugs, boxes and decorative figures. Nativity scenes made with ixtle also stand out, whose process can take several months.
To obtain one kilogram of fiber, about five maguey stalks are required, and the defibering takes several hours. Bundles of fiber, known as machines, are not only used in production, but also in the workshop display. During peak demand seasons, the workshop incorporates local labor to support the process.
Exfoliating and working with natural fibers
In Exfoliarte, directed by Pedro Vega, they work with fibers such as lechuguilla, henequen and maguey xamini. Here, brushes, scrubs, scouring pads and traditional figures of the Nativity are made with wire structures and fibers dyed with natural pigments derived from bark and cochineal.
Personal care items are produced for most of the year, and from September piñatas and nativity scenes are also made, either with their own designs or to order. The workshop even offers massages using tools made from their own fibers, showing the variety of uses these materials can have.
Eva Servín Ceramics is a workshop founded by Eva Servín Morales and Tomás Castro Servín. Its production is based on a family tradition that has been passed down for three generations. In this space, jewellery boxes, crockery, cups, pots and different items made entirely by hand are made.
The process begins with pouring the mixture into plaster molds. The part is then unmolded and polished to correct any imperfections. Finally, the guidelines that will be used to apply designs and colors are drawn. As each piece is worked individually, they are all different from each other. This workshop has become a point of reference for those who want to learn about the process of artisanal ceramics in the area.
Today, Villa Progreso is recognized for its artisanal production and for the effort of those who seek to preserve these practices in the face of market changes and the arrival of industrial materials. The workshops not only function as workspaces, but also as places where visitors can get up close and personal with traditional methods, observe the tools, and understand the real value behind handmade products. Through these trades, the community strengthens its cultural identity and maintains a heritage that is an important part of regional history.
Ixartte:
441 122 3750
Santa Maria, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
https://www.instagram.com/ceramicaservin/?hl=es
https://www.instagram.com/ixartte/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Ixartte-100064024330599/
Maguey Art:
Villa Progreso, Barrio de San Miguel, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
441 109 77 60
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083316853759
Exfoli-art:
441 205 7193
442 504 9720
La Cruz 26, Barrio de San Miguel, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
Ixartte: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qDiocWzMUN1Bn9MA7
Arte Maguey: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6vQnSxYjUW4xzu446
Eva Servín Ceramics: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MEmyPtGQ4Dv39nkw5
A tour of the workshops of Villa Progreso, where the craftsmanship of ixtle and ceramics reveals the tradition and talent of its artisans.
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The Hotel Villa Mexicana is a space full of elegance and good service. Its exclusivity is one of its main characteristics. It is an environment in which business tourism can enjoy signature spaces in a typical Mexican hacienda environment.
Ixartte:
441 122 3750
Santa Maria, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
https://www.instagram.com/ceramicaservin/?hl=es
https://www.instagram.com/ixartte/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Ixartte-100064024330599/
Maguey Art:
Villa Progreso, Barrio de San Miguel, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
441 109 77 60
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083316853759
Exfoli-art:
441 205 7193
442 504 9720
La Cruz 26, Barrio de San Miguel, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
Ixartte: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qDiocWzMUN1Bn9MA7
Arte Maguey: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6vQnSxYjUW4xzu446
Eva Servín Ceramics: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MEmyPtGQ4Dv39nkw5
Ixartte:
441 122 3750
Santa Maria, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
https://www.instagram.com/ceramicaservin/?hl=es
https://www.instagram.com/ixartte/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Ixartte-100064024330599/
Maguey Art:
Villa Progreso, Barrio de San Miguel, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
441 109 77 60
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083316853759
Exfoli-art:
441 205 7193
442 504 9720
La Cruz 26, Barrio de San Miguel, 76670 Villa Progreso, Ezequiel Montes, Querétaro
Ixartte: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qDiocWzMUN1Bn9MA7
Arte Maguey: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6vQnSxYjUW4xzu446
Eva Servín Ceramics: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MEmyPtGQ4Dv39nkw5
