Bag Item Number: 3486/146 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Woven bag (costal) formed from one long panel that was folded in half and hand-sewn together on the long edges. Coloured vertical bands in natural shades of brown decorate the bag, mirrored at the centre. The central band is a medium brown, followed by a darker band, a light beige band, another medium brown band, and a greyish-brown band, each separated by contrasting narrow bands in light beige.
These types of bags are used for transporting produce, and different sizes are used for different products. It is possible the range of sizes operated as a system of measurement for trading purposes. Similar sacks and bags have been used in many parts of highland Peru and Bolivia. Commercial sacks, made of woven plastic strips, have supplanted the woven sacks in many areas as they are cheap, durable, and readily available.
Purchased by the donor in the Cuzco area between 1982 and 1984.
Bag is woven in a warp-faced plain weave.