Skirt Item Number: Sa203 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Sample of double-ikat resist-dyed woven cotton textile. The textile has both warp and weft patterning with a traditional pattern of black, blue, yellow, white and metallic gold stripes and an ikat design, mainly curvilinear, in bands of white.

History Of Use

Weaving with resist-dyed yarns is an important occupation for many people of Salcaja and it is pursued intensely. Many activities in town are related to this work. When resist-dyed yarn patterns are included in both the warp and weft the total effect can be that of a mass of undulating colours and shapes, so that the designs are not correlated. When the patterning is either warp-wise or weft-wise, some of the motifs are more easily recognizable in patterns such as human figures, vases of flowers, etc. Jaspe weaving in Salcaja is done by non-Indians (Lambert).

Narrative

In Salcaja, as in other places, the number and appearance of the different tie-dyed motifs changes. Sometimes more than 8 motifs are used in the weft pattern repeats for each length, but usually fewer and simpler repeats are used in the warp.

Specific Techniques

Jaspé: compound ikat (tie-dyed) warp and weft.

Item History

What

Name
Skirt
Identification Number
Sa203
Type of Item
skirt
Material
cotton fibre, dye and metal
Manufacturing Technique
resist dyed, woven and machine spun
Overall
height 99.0 cm, width 150.0 cm

Who

Culture
Quiche
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
Salcaja, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

When

Creation Date
before 1976
Collection Date
during 1976
Ownership Date
before August 5, 1977
Acquisition Date
on August 5, 1977

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
good
Accession Number
0404/0010