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Narrative

Bought by the donor between 1982 and 1984 in the Cusco area; made and worn in the Cusco highlands, possibly above the Sacred Valley (Urubamba Valley).

Description

Wasa watana (hair tie). A hair tie that is made in a mixture of techniques: oblique interlaced bands with zigzag embroidery for the main band and woven bands made in complementary warp weave that intersect with the main band. Each end has two intersecting bands, and two of those also have intersecting bands. Each end has three tassels made of three bands. Most of the secondary intersecting bands are braided. Combination of techniques used: braiding, weaving and embroidery.

History Of Use

Hair ties are worn by highland women of Peru and Bolivia as adornments but are also useful for keeping their long braids joined together on their back and out of their way while doing other tasks. In the Cusco area, they are called “wasa watana” (Quechua), which means a narrow woven band with other bands woven through it. The distinctive feature of woven wasa watana is the addition of intersecting warp bands near both ends, which are also woven. The intersecting bands produce tassel-like endings with fringes. The most common design woven into the narrow bands is nested diamonds; other patterns based on triangles or zigzags are also used. The main band bridges woman’s hair braids and sections of it are included in the braids, with the tassels extending from the ends of their braids. Types vary in Peru and Bolivia and several different techniques (weaving, braiding, wrapping, felting, embroidery) are used to make them.