Cloth Item Number: Sf972 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Cloth, rectangular, made of woven wool with two selvedges and two cut and fraying edges. The colour is an irregular mix of red and black with bands of slightly darker red.

History Of Use

Used to wrap babies, along with swaddling bands, from birth to one year old. When closer to one year, swaddling is done only at night. Smaller cloths, used as diapers, are worn inside the swaddling clothes. Bayenta is made by males on the treadle loom.

Specific Techniques

Handspun sheep's wool yarn, z singles, in balanced plain weave. Cut section of complete fabric width. Cut edges unfinished and fraying.

Narrative

Woven by Esteban Huatta Cruz and used by his son, Selvano Huatta Yucra.

Cultural Context

swaddling