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Iconographic Meaning

The 4 tassels are symbolic of the 4 legs of animals.

Cultural Context

ceremonial

History Of Use

These tasselled tzutes or red headdresses, with elaborate, tapestry brocade weavings are woven by women on back strap looms and hand embroidered for men in Chichicastenango. Part of a ceremonial costume.

Description

Headdress composed of two rectangles of red cotton with blue stripes joined at the centre by multicoloured insertion stitch embroidery (randa). The headdress is decorated with a wide band of multicoloured floral design brocade flanked by bands of multicoloured chevrons and has a tassel of untwisted maroon silk at each corner.

Specific Techniques

Probably backstrap loomed cloth made from a (32.5 cm wide) 4-selvedge weaving that has been cut in half laterally and joined together lengthwise to form a square; band of decorative embroiderey stitches known as randa at the seam. One side has hand-stitched hem; selvedge edges on the other three. Warp-faced plain weave ground fabric with warp stripes (pinstripes). Central panel features two-faced supplementary cotton (?) or acrylic (?) weft patterning (pattern is reversed on the back face of the cloth). Warp: pair of singles; weft: 6 singles. Supplementary weft: four 2-ply over four warps; weft has been "raised" by the weaver to create a slight pile effect on the ground weave. Tassles added to each of the four corners feature knotted and wrapped orbs.