Poncho with Collar (Aymara or Quechua)
Poncho (Pre 1966)
wool
99.0 x 135.5 cm
Field collected by Dwight B. Heath
66-4061
This poncho is made of sheep's wool with a deep nap. This poncho is made of sheep's wool, which is not used as much for clothing as alpaca wool in these cultures in Bolivia, as it coarser. Alpaca and llama are also particularly suited to the high mountain climates of the Andes, and they are integral to the culture of the Andean peoples. These animals were hardy enough to live in the harsh mountainous Andean regions, with its fierce sun exposure during the day and freezing temperatures at night. Furthermore, according to Heckman's Woven Stories: Andean Textiles and Rituals:
"Quechuan speakers who refer to themselves as runakuna (the people, humankind) use the animals' hair for warmth and clothing, the pelts for beds, the dung for heat and cooking fuel, and the meat to make charki (sun-dried jerky). For these reasons, the animals are absolutely essential for human survival in this radically vertical geography" (2003:55).
While alpaca, llama, and other camelid wool may have been the more traditional and preferred fiber, sheep's wool was also utilized to make garments, such as the example above, most likely for its waterproof and insulating properties. With its muted color and large collar, this piece reminded the Textile Team of Bruno's poncho from Disney's Encanto.
This page has paths:
- Clothing - Wearable Art Jessica Nelson