Poncho Item Number: 3486/152 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
A neck poncho (unku) with rayed diamond (chaska, the planet Venus) and winding river (mayu k’inku or zigzag) designs.
Small ponchos with rainbow coloured fringes were worn around the neck for fiestas or folded diagonally and worn as a hip apron (siki unku, “bum” poncho).
Poncho was woven from one loom piece that is cut in half through the terminal weaving area. Woven in a complementary warp weave with 3-span floats.
Purchased by the donor in Tarabuco, province of Chuquisaca, at the Sunday market in 1983.
The warm spectrum of colours is used for everyday and fiesta wear, while the cool colours of blue, green, purple are used for mourning (luto) clothes.