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Specific Techniques

Diamond designs are woven in a 3-colour supplementary warp weave.

History Of Use

Different types of Andean bags (bolsas, generic term, Spanish) have different names and characteristics. Square or rectangular bags used by men to carry coca leaves are called “chuspa”. Some of these have small pockets woven into one face for carrying the llipt’a (lime-ash substance that releases the alkaloids when chewed with the leaves). Some have straps and are worn around the waist or shoulder.

Narrative

Purchased by the donor in 1983 in Cuzco.

Description

Woven coca leaf bag (chuspa) with woven strap, tubular woven edgings (ribetes) on seams and edges, a twisted fringe on the bottom and tassels on the corners of the bag. The design on the front face has three concentric diamonds in alternating green and red, surrounded by a red and pink diamond with a spiked outline on a green background. The back face has two spiked diamonds in red and green against a pink background. The tubular edging (ribetes) has a repeating green diamond motif against a red background. Two smaller red tassels are attached to the top corners, and larger tassels in pink, white, green, and red are attached to the bottom corners.