Headdress

Item number Sa231 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

Headdress composed of a woven band, solid red at the centre with white warps visible at very few places along its length. On either end are matching bands of multicoloured design. The multicoloured designs consist of: six-pointed stars, a nine-stepped design, stylized animals and birds, chevrons, frontal figures, triangles, and arrows separated by solid, narrow bands of dark purple, green, dark blue or blue. Finished with bunched pink, magenta and mottled grey tassels of numerous ply (spin relaxed), knotted with one band of yarn.

History Of Use

Women's headdresses vary according to the village, marital status, age, and occasion at which they are worn. Headdresses worn by the women of Santiago Atitlan are first wrapped spirally through the hair and then evenly wound into one halo-like band with the decorated end to the outside. The long, red central section was introduced about 1910. Circa 1900, headdresses were shorter and predominately brown and blue (Rowe).

Cultural Context

clothing

Specific Techniques

Yarns examined appear to be s-plied. Ends and central portion are weft faced plain weave. The multicoloured sections between are split tapestry weave. Selvedges contain multiple warps. Single loom width. Fringe of roving (that has not been spun).