Poncho (Punchu), 20th century
Unknown artist, Boliviaexpand_more
Wool ikatexpand_more
Gift of Richard L. Simmons in memory of Roberta Grodberg Simmonsexpand_more 94.106.34
Not on Viewexpand_more
Since the Spanish conquest, sheep’s wool has joined alpaca, llama, and vicuña wool as a preferred fiber for weaving. Today, machine-spun yarn has become a symbol of status, but many garments are still made of hand-spun wool. The traditional spinning process takes part in three stages. The raw wool is first spun into a fine strand, and then spun again to create two plies. After it is dyed, it is re-spun very tightly, into what is called a “crepe twist.” This third and final step produces extremely elastic, fine yarn that creates a warm and durable garment. The zig zag and diamond patterns in this poncho were created by resist-dyeing (ikat).
Details
- Title
- Poncho (Punchu)
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 94.106.34
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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