Hat

Item number Sf927 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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Description

Cap with a red tassel at the top and a ribbed off-white frill with multicoloured bands around the bottom. The conical top half is mid-brown and the bottom half has two bands of milticoloured and off-white floral motifs as well as a band of off-white profile walking birds, a frontal flying bird, a circle with partitions, a cross, and a reverse curve. The name of the maker appears in the top row.

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. This style of cap with brown cone and frilly brim is worn by young girls until they switch to adult woman's head cloth between age 4 and 8.

Cultural Context

young girl

Narrative

Knitted by Esteban Huatta Cruz, a young married man, for his younger sister, Andrea Huatta.

Specific Techniques

Plain knitting done circularly on five needles with extra colours carried on the inside for local colour areas. The knitting is of fine quality.

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.