A BEAUTIFUL INDIAN PHISTA PUNCHU

FROM THE LITTLE-EXPLORED MUÑECAS REGION OF THE ANDES

 12360

13521 is a beautiful warp-faced textile woven in two identical pieces that were joined together with a common center seam. All the original eight sides have selvage. The weaver employed a primitive, prehistoric-style provincial loom consisting of loose sticks to create their masterpiece. Although most weavers from the region were women, historically male weavers were known.

Now folks, it's just a privilege to view a poncho as beautiful as this one. Few people ever get a chance to even see a native textile of this quality and splender, much less buy one. Hang this in your home, and it will shine -- both the poncho and your home. The clean and bright white field is divided into four major zones of designwork and colored stripes. Many of the patterns are identical to certain prehistoric examples from the dry deserts of Perú. The artist employed a form of brocade called kurti, which is a weaving technique in which multiple heddles allowed for two levels of designs independent of each other. In the Andes, this form of brocade may be unique to highland Bolivia. The designs also incorporate a form of supplementary warp patterns, where yarns skip one or two wefts before being secured in the weave. Finally, tukapu “windows,” or squarish frames, are prevalent throughout the design bands. Tukapu were especially common in Inka textile art from the 15th and 16th centuries. Friends, you can't go wrong investing in textile art of this high quality. I promise that owning this piece will enhance your life and the lives of those who see it.

Ethnic Group: Yanahuaya-Ayata (current Quechua speakers; formerly Pukina speakers)

Age: The textile is about 80 years old.

Size 54.25 inches by 50 inches

46 warps and 11 wefts per inch

Excellent Condition

The poncho is in excellent condition; the white yarns are dark in some parts due to age. It has a tiny hole that is 0.25 inch in diameter, as well as a small repair or restoration that is 0.75 inch long by 0.25 inch wide. Most dealers would not even mention that condition.