Huipil: backstrap-loomed, warp predominant plain weave. Single-faced suppl. weft brocading. One piece, sides joined with machine stitching, end selvedges loom-finished. Head hole cut and finished with embroidery. Bottom: treadle-loomed manta.
Donor:
Janet Tellefsen
Collection place:
Rabinal, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
Verbatim coll. place:
Rabinal, Baja Verapaz,
Culture or time period:
Achi
Collector:
Thomas Whittaker
Collection date:
late 1960s-1976
Materials:
Cotton (textile) and Silk floss (2 ply brocade)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Huipils
Function:
2.1 Daily Garb
Production date:
1970s
Accession date:
March 1, 1989
Department:
Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean area
Dimensions:
length 76.5 centimeters and width 56.5 centimeters
Comment:
MATERIALS, TECHNIQUES: Backstrap-loomed with cotton yarns. Warp and weft in 2 singles, peach color. Suppl weft brocading in cotton 6 two ply and cotton floss in multicolors; silk two-ply in orange and cream. CONTEXT OF USE: May be San Miguel Chcaj; bottom and arm treatment for wear by central Kaqchikel or K'iche speakers. Huipil lengthened by adding manta to bottom. Opening at center front below neckline probably used for nursing a baby. Iconography: geometric(brocading), and vegetal and animal (embroidery). Weaver's mark located at center back at bottom of manta, woven as suppl weft brocading in a geometric design. Neck shows influence from Quetzaltenango (Arriola de Geng). CONSERVATION:Much wear, particularly at arm holes and neckline; some tearing at bottom of each arm hole: supp. weft brocading wearing away.