Fragment: Bag Item Number: 3263/89 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Adornment, or paleta, from the bottom of a coca bag. Bell shaped with gold brown background and light red-orange diamond pattern across entire surface. Three plain stripes, down the centre, on both the front and back. Concentric diamond patterns along left and right sides, done in black. Black line border along bottom edge. Small bunches of short golden brown and light red-orange fringe attached to bottom.
Collected in Peru before the 1970s by Ina VanStan, a Professor of Textiles and Clothing at the Florida State College for Women (Florida State University) from the 1940s to c. 1966. VanStan later gifted her collection to the donor. A large amount of the donation was used for teaching at the University of Alberta while others were mainly small study fragments.
Done in wrapping technique. Method has camelid yarns pass over spiralling cotton yarns.
These adornments were associated with the caravaners who transported goods on llamas between the coast and highlands. The variety in shapes and sizes among the paletas suggest they expressed rank or status.