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Cultural Context

infant

Specific Techniques

Plain knitting done circularly on five needles with extra colours carried on the inside for local colour areas.

Narrative

Made by a young married man, Rosendo Quispe Cruz, and used by his 15 month old son, Mario. The cap is said to be 5 months old. It appears to have been made over from a larger, adult hat as it is unusual to find a knitted cap shaped by machine stitching. The pattern is also unusual.

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. The style of this cap combines usual Taquile patterns with the rainbow stripes of the Lake Style caps which are worn by men when they go outside the community.

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.

Description

A triangular knitted cap with three geometric, floral, and bird patterned bands separated by rainbow colour bands. The hat has been shaped by cutting and machine and hand
stitching. The lower band repeats interlocked hook motif. The middle band repeats florets joined by stepped diagonal lines. The upper pattern band has eight part circles, butterflies and birds. The plain colour bands are graduated in value and hue to produce a glowing effect.