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Cultural Context

contemporary; tourist art; ritual

History Of Use

Chair used by shaman during religious ceremonies to provide a sacred place for communicating with the gods. The chair is also used by ranch elders who consider it their seat of power; it is sometimes the sole piece of furniture amongst the Huichol.

Iconographic Meaning

Curvilinear design represents the five petaled flower of the peyote plant.

Description

Circular based chair has rectangular back and curved armrest with same decorative intertwined bamboo splints. Bamboo splints interwoven in plait-like weave on seat, surrounded by bamboo grass tied with bark. Support of 2 inverted v shaped branches, one part of branch in base the other extends behind chair; all joints affixed with black glue. Criss-crossing bark under seat, and wrapping around rim underneath gathered bamboo grass. Base: wide smooth overlapping wood strip forms circular base; crisscrossing bamboo strips extend upward from base to wooden rim at bottom of chair seat. Black adhesive is used on all joints.

Narrative

The Wixáritari are known to the larger world as the Huichol, however that is not the name they use to refer to themselves.