Belt Item Number: Sa176 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Stiff cotton belt with warp threads braided at each end. Weft yarns have been stiffened, creating ribs. Background is red with thin green stripe along each lengthwise edge. Multicoloured single-faced brocade pattern is of geometric designs and one human form, one green quetzal bird, and smaller yellow bird.
History Of Use
Worn around waist to hold skirt in place. Some women tuck money or small purchases into belt. Belt may be tied or ends may tuck into skirt. Probably made for tourist sale (Lambert). This belt would probably not be worn by women of San Antonio Aguas Calientes.
Cultural Context
worn by women
Iconographic Meaning
Quetzal bird is the national bird of Guatemala.
Specific Techniques
Wooven on back strap loom, possibly by professional belt weavers in Totonicapan (Wood and Osborne). Warp-faced red plain weave with single-faced discontinuous supplementary weft (false satin stitch).
Narrative
This object forms part of the Inge Ruus Collection of Guatemalan Textiles in the Museum of Anthropology. The Inge Ruus Collection of Guatemalan Textiles was collected on behalf of the Museum of Anthropology by Inge Ruus, Curatorial Assistant in the Museum from 1974 to 1978. Some items were purchased by the Museum and others were donated by Inge Ruus. Inge Ruus collected these materials while attending courses on Guatemalan textiles in Guatemala during the summers of 1976 and 1977, taught by Anne Lambert, instructor on textiles at the University of Alberta.
Item History
- Made in San Antonio De Aguas Calientes, Sacatepequez, Guatemala before 1976
- Owned by Inge Ruus before July 1976
- Received from Inge Ruus (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) during July 1976
What
- Name
- Belt
- Identification Number
- Sa176
- Type of Item
- belt
- Material
- cotton fibre and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven, supplementary weft and plain warp faced
- Overall
- height 166.0 cm, width 16.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Cakchiquel
- Previous Owner
- Inge Ruus
- Received from
- Inge Ruus (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- San Antonio De Aguas Calientes, Sacatepequez, Guatemala
When
- Creation Date
- before 1976
- Ownership Date
- before July 1976
- Acquisition Date
- during July 1976
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0318/0006 a