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Cultural Context

coca leaves and lime storage

Specific Techniques

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

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

Rectangular knitted bag with a small attached pocket, a carrying strap and three yarn tassels on the bottom. Four pattern bands alternate on dark red and dark blue background. Dark red design bands have white, green, blue and purple florets joined by white oblique stepped lines. One dark blue band repeats a white s-shape motif. The other dark blue band has a white, green and pink eight part circle, a white and green profile bird, a white bird with two outstretched wings, green and pink crosses and a butterfly.

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 lay-out of the pattern bands is similar to those found on chullus, or traditional knitted caps. The form of the bag with the small attached pocket is the same as for woven coca bags. The knitted bag is a recent innovation developed in response to a tourist market.