Hat Item Number: Ni43 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Hat composed of braided strips of palm leaf sewn together with red cloth folded over the rim and stitched in place. Two strips of red cloth run over the crown in a cross shape with mutlicoloured yarn ornamenting the top, and four smaller red fabric crosses placed around the brim. A beaded band of orange, green, blue and yellow flowers on yellow with black borders is tied with blue cord around the base of the crown from which extend seven groups of white feathers. The feathers rest on the brim and are joined with lengths of orange cord, the ends, placed behind the beaded band, are knotted and extend beyond the band at the top. Along the underside of the rim are 15 beaded floral square tassels with rectangular extensions. A chin strap of blue woven band with yellow horizontal stripes has twisted and knotted ends with floral beaded square tassels attached.

History Of Use

Hats are part of everyday wear and are usually made of palm fibre and decorated with macaw or hawk feathers; can be decorated more elaborately to suit the occasion. Hats have now become part of the tourist art trade.

Cultural Context

contemporary; tourist art; ritual

Narrative

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