Spanish Colchas:
Embroidering On Imperfection

By Rebekah Powers | January 2024

The folk art of colcha embroidery is a testament to the women who came up the Camino Real during the Spanish Colonial era, bringing their churro wool and a needle. The textile tradition is unique to New Mexico and Colorado and originated from the ornate mending habits of early Spanish settlers who fixed torn shirts and ripped pants with embroidery thread adding coverage, warmth and a bit of panache. Later, loosely woven cloth termed “sabanilla “ was woven into fanciful with cochineal and indigo imported from the Spanish Empire and the folk art continued to evolve for generations.

Chimayo Trading has acquired a great example of this rare art form created by Francis V. Graves, born in 1910 in Arroyo Seco, north of Taos. By then the colcha had evolved into adornments for windows, ceilings, and beds as well as home and church altars. Some were decorative, like this one by Francis, with fanciful colors and free form surface designs of animals, plants and flowers. Others were elaborate depictions of scenes of daily life from Spanish, Moorish, Mexican and Native American peoples. Graves’ favorite subjects were religious images from retablos and bultos.

Spanish Colcha Blanket, 38″ x 44″ – SOLD

Unique to our area, and part of the history of women who shear, spin, gather and dye, design and weave, Colcha is a prized folk art that carries forward the complex history of the Spanish Colonial era and weaves it into  our present, elaborating a way of life.

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#1 Saint Francis Church Plaza
Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

575.758.0504

We buy individual pieces or whole collections.

Contact us for the evaluation and resale of your collectible art.
We’re interested in locating relevant collections and original New Mexico artwork for purchase. We buy historic and contemporary relevant paintings, pottery, jewelry, textiles, weavings and more.

Contact us directly to discuss and evaluate your collection. If you’re an artist, contact us about the possibility of selling your art on consignment or direct wholesale purchase.

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