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Cultural Context

unmarried male

Narrative

Knit by Faustino Quispe Cruz, an 11 year old, for his own use. This is the sixth or seventh cap he has made since starting knitting at age 7.

History Of Use

The colour, extent of patterning, shape and the manner in which chullus or caps are worn signal differences in age, sex and status of the wearer. Females wear chullus in early childhood, but only males wear them later in life. Traditionally, knitting is done only by men and boys, formerly for chullus, but recently also for vest fronts, coin purses, gloves, ties, vests and sweaters which are sold to tourists.

Specific Techniques

Plain knitting done circularly on five needles with extra colours carried on the inside for local colour areas. The texture of the knitting and the shaping is somewhat irregular, attributable to the inexperience of an 11 year old.

Description

A long stocking cap with a tassel on the pointed end. The top half is plain white and the bottom half has five bands of motifs on a dark red background, each separated by blue lines. Three bands repeat an eight part floret connected by an oblique stepped line. The two remaining bands have birds, circles, crosses and reverse curves.

Iconographic Meaning

The range of motifs refers to local geography and landmarks, ecology, fecundity as well as luck. The six part circle refers to the division of land into six sections on Taquile and the rotation of crops and fallow periods. The s or z shaped reverse curve can refer to the boat port or other objects that contain the idea of turning or returning such as a recurved potato hook. The cross or x-shape can refer to the warping cross in weaving, the crossroads or other intersections. The stepped diagonal lines refer to stairs on the steep island, but also to the connection with the afterworld in a particular myth. The motifs represent basic concepts or interrelationships and may have different particular references.