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History Of Use

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.

Specific Techniques

Woven in a reversible 2-colour complementary warp weave, except for the central band, which is a 3-colour complementary warp weave that is not reversible.

Narrative

Purchased by donor from Paulina Pumayalli in Chinchero in 1982.

Description

Woven belt (chumpi) with loop-manipulated braids on one end, finished with woven binding tape on both ends. The design of the belt is split into two wide horizontal bands, separated by a thin band of alternating red and green ‘t’ shapes with yellow outlines. The two thick bands have a dark red background with a thin orange stripe horizontally through the centre, with geometric motifs worked in off-white. The motifs include diamonds, triangles, zigzags, hourglass shapes, circles, spirals, and small birds. The border along the top and bottom edges has a repeating ‘v’ shapes in red, green, and yellow, and a row with a checkerboard motif in black and off-white. A small section of light green binding tape is used to finish one end, and light red binding tape finishes the braided end, both hand-sewn onto the band with black thread.