Belt Item Number: 3486/115 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Belt (chumpi) that repeats a simplified version of "puma maki" (cat’s paw print) along its length.
Belts of different types are used by men, women, and children, and some have special names. Most belts are called chumpi (Quechua) or cinterone (Spanish). Some belts are associated with pregnant women and their babies, where they are used to fasten the swaddling cloths around the infant. Belts for children are usually smaller in size. In some areas, very wide belts are worn with a stiff underbelt, which acts as a back support. Belts in Andean villages are usually made on a continuous warp and the last few inches are finished by braiding. A wide variety of techniques are used to pattern the belts. The imagery woven on belts is usually drawn from a set of geometric and figurative icons that are combined in ways that are distinctive of a particular community. The thick strong fabric of this belt indicates it was used for a man's belt, to suport their back while doing heavy work.
Purchased by the donor in the Pisac market in 1978.
Woven in a complementary warp weave with 3-span floats in alternating alignment. This is an “intermesh” variant of complementary warp weave. The technique is called "jakira" by the weavers and it is only done in communities to the north and north east of Cuzco, such as Patabamba, Chahuaytire, Accha Alta, etc.