Band Item Number: 3486/94 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Woven band (watana) with añu (flower of the tropaelum uberosun plant) tika (flower) design, and a braided loop on one end. The horizontal centre of the band has a repeating pattern of white triangles pointed away from the loop end, decorated with dark green highlights, against a red background. A pink and red border spans the top and bottom edges of the band. A small braided segment of yellow yarn is attached to the braided loop, and an additional piece is used in the knot on the opposite end.
Bands are used in various ways as fasteners or adornments in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia. Watana is the name for narrow patterned bands that are used to adorn monteras (money bags), sombreros (hats), or chullu (caps), and to provide ties for closures on garments or straps on bags. Watana are also made for sale to tourists, as they are small items that can be quickly made with the left-over yarns from larger projects.
Yarns are likely hand-spun and dyes are chemical.
Purchased by the donor in 2013 in Cuzco, at a meeting called the Tinkuy. The Tinkuy was attended by weavers from eight communities then associated with the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC).