Sleeve Item Number: 3486/24 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
A pair of protective sleeves (mangas, maquitas) knitted mostly in hand-spun sheep’s wool and dyed with aniline dyes. The geometric design features a black and red border at the top, followed by alternating multicoloured bands with colourful motifs and black bands with off-white motifs that are separated by thin colourful lines, tapering to the green and black border at the wrist end of the sleeves. The multicoloured bands are split into two sections with patterns in green with red and purple with orange, green with pink and purple with red, and green with pink and purple with orange.
Knitting and crochet were introduced to the Andes after the Spanish Conquest. These techniques are used for some items of dress and accessories. Knitting is more often done by men, particularly for their caps (chullu, in Quechua). Protective sleeves (mangas, maquitos, in Spanish) and socks (medias, in Spanish) are worn by men in communities around Huancayo and Huancavelica to protect their forearms while doing agricultural work, and are typically made and used in the central Andes closer to the cities of Huancayo and Huancavelica (although some are also made in the Cusco region). Knitting in the round is done on 5 needles that are often fashioned from bicycle spokes.
Bought by the donor in 1982 from Maxima Balbin in the Huancayo market. They were made in a community close to Huancayo.
Knitted in the round, using five needles.