Scarf Item Number: 3486/145 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Woven fiesta scarf (chalina) with long fringes. The design has three patterned bands with hooked designs in white, alternating with solid brown bands. The central patterned band has a dark red background, flanked by thin stripes in navy blue, yellow, blueish-green, red, and white. The other patterned bands both have a pale red background, flanked by thin stripes in navy blue, mauve, orange, blueish-green, red and white. Similar stripes appear near the border of the top and bottom edges of the panel in red, white, mauve, blueish-green, and orange. A border with repeating diamond motifs in red, white, green, navy blue, and yellow is hand-sewn to left and right edges of the central woven panel, connecting it to the long red fringes.
A fiesta scarf (chalina) is a garment type imported from Spain, and is worn by men for special occasions in a number of regions. The finest ones are made of vicuña fibre. The long red fringe gives added flair when the scarf is worn for horseback riding. Similar scarves are worn in Q'eros and other highland communities.
Purchased by the donor in Cuzco in 1978.
The patterned bands are woven in a complementary warp weave with 3-span floats in alternate alignment. The alternating bands are plain weave.