House Post Item Number: 3289/61 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Painted house beam. Slice of a tree trunk, covered in plaster on the front, with the bark left on the back. The part that has been plastered is painted with natural pigments. The beam would be read bottom to top. At the bottom is one of the patron saints; the Virgin of Asuncion. In phrases divided by various patterns, such as flowers and llamas, the beam depicts a range of daily activities such as sowing seeds and weaving. The persons represented are named in writing. At the top of this beam is the sun.

History Of Use

These beams are painted collaboratively for newlyweds, and are an important means of transmitting cultural knowledge to the younger generation. The people of Sarhua traditionally paint the wooden beams of their houses with depictions of family genealogies and religious and social rituals. These beams demonstrate syncretism in that the base shows Catholic saints, while the top of the beam always shows the sun. The inclusion (importance of) the sun relates to the Incan Sun God - Inti, the national patron of the Incan state. These beams often register the act of making the beam for the newlyweds. The beams are handed over to recipients in a ceremony called the "tablapaycuy" (in Quechua).

Narrative

This is a reproduction of a Sarhua house beam originally made by Poma and Yancca, in January 1962. Venuca Evanan Vivanco is working to build a new Empresa Comunal de Sarhua on family land in Delicias, Lima. She hopes to revitalise Sarhuino artistic traditions. This piece (and the others bought from her) were held in Lima for a month following their purchase, because of controversy in the press following the acquisition by MALI (Museo de Arte de Lima) of some original testimonial paintings from Sarhua. The museum was accused of supporting terrorism.

Item History

What

Name
House Post
Identification Number
3289/61
Type of Item
house post
Overall
height 235.0 cm, width 18.5 cm, depth 8.5 cm

Who

Culture
Peruvian
Creator
Venuca Evanan (Maker)
Field Collector
Laura Osorio
Previous Owner
Laura Osorio
Received from
Laura Osorio (Seller), Museum of Anthropology Exhibitions Budget (Funding source) and Michael O'Brian Family Foundation (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Sarhua, Ayacucho, Peru

When

Creation Date
during 2018
Collection Date
between 2017 and 2018
Ownership Date
before April 11, 2018
Acquisition Date
on April 11, 2018

Other

Item Classes
paintings
Condition
good
Accession Number
3289/0061