Shawl Item Number: 3486/142 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
A shoulder shawl (lliklla) for a woman that is composed of two 4-selvedge cloths that are sewn together on a long edge with decorative stitches. Each panel has two broad patterned bands with a plain black band separating them and a plain red band on the top and bottom borders. Diamond and triangular motifs worked in pink and black, and reddish-orange and black make up the patterned bands, bordered by thin bands with a chevron motif.
A lliklla (Quechua) or manta (Spanish) is worn as a shawl that is fastened around the shoulders with a pin, but it can also be worn as a cloth for carrying things on the back.
Purchased by the donor in Cuzco in 1978.
The patterns of diagonals and diamonds are woven in a 3-colour complementary warp weave with 3-span floats. The chevron pattern on the red borders is produced by alternating the twist of groups of warps. The less usual twist (Z-plied) is called loq’e, which means "something different"; such yarns are through to have magical or curative properties.