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Description

A knitted cap (chullu) primarily made from hand-spun sheep’s wool and dyed with aniline dyes, as well as some undyed camelid hair (fawn colour). Mainly geometric figures in the bands, wtih a long chupan (tail).

History Of Use

This chullu is typical of the Pitumarca community, which is located south of Cusco in the Vilcanote Valley. Knitting was introduced to the Andes after the Spanish Conquest. Knitting is more often done by men, particularly for their caps (chullu, in Quechua). Variations in colours, designs, and fineness in chullus, as well as additions, are used to signal differences in affiliation, age, gender, status, rank, etc., particularly in some communities such as Taquile, Peru where little girls as well as boys and men wear variants of the chullu. Knitting in the round is done on 5 needles that are often fashioned from bicycle spokes.

Narrative

Bought by the donor in 1982 in Cusco from a street vendor who said it was made and worn in Pitumarca.

Specific Techniques

The cap was knitted in the round on five needles.