Belt Item Number: Sa248 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Belt composed of dark brown and off-white longitudinal alternating bands with light green, pink, purple and black diamond and triangular patterned embroidery in abaca fibre (?) with a blue and a green multi-braided fringe on either end. A stylized bird figure in red is embroidered along with geometric motifs in pink, green and blue cotton fibre near the blue fringe.

History Of Use

Belts, like sashes are worn around the waist to hold other garments in place. Worn by women.

Cultural Context

clothing

Specific Techniques

The ground is warp faced, z-spun, s-twist. Ground wefts and 1/2 the warps are dyed forming longitudinal stripes. Most of the embroidery threads are lightly twisted or roving that has not been spun. Those which appear to be cotton are z-spun, 2-ply s. Green and some blue multiple elements; remainder of blue are z-spun 3-ply s. 3 strand 1/1 oblique interlacing on grouped elements. Most are knotted, unknotted ones are unwinding. Blue fringe is loosely grouped into 1/1 oblique interlacing. Fringes are attached by a double row of chain stitches. Fabric is an uncut loom width.

Item History

What

Name
Belt
Identification Number
Sa248
Type of Item
belt
Material
abaca fibre, synthetic fibre, cotton fibre ? and dye
Manufacturing Technique
dyed, woven, braided and knotted
Overall
height 5.4 cm, width 242.0 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 Pedro De Sacatepequez, Guatemala

When

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

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
fair
Accession Number
0404/0004 b