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AN ANTIQUE PAIR OF ANDEAN INDIAN KASAMINT ISTALLA RITUAL CLOTHS

#8419

Beloved people, here’s a rare and special find. A pair of beautifully woven ritual cloths that suffer, or not, from stains related to their use. Traditionally, certain Andean married couples received a pair of small ritual cloths filled with amulets and money as a blessing of their status. TM8419 represents such a pair. This offering is an opportunity to own a very intimate part of Andean culture.

These small textiles, called kasamint istalla in Aymara, were presented to the bride and groom as a blessing for their marriage with money and other objects. The darker stains appear to represent folded bills and written blessings. The pair was probably kept by the couple for the duration of their marriage and ultimately sold after their demise by family members.

Except for the dark squarish stains, the textiles are in excellent condition and are typical of finely woven pieces from the Desaguadero region of Perú/Bolivia on the southwest end of Sacred Lake Titikaka. Perhaps you know of a couple who might deserve to own such a pair for their marriage?

Circa 1920-1940

14 inches by 12 ¾ inches

14 1/8 inches by 13 ¼ inches

76 warps; 17 wefts per inch (very finely woven)

121 grams

Free shipping to the U.S.A.; $8 shipping to all other locations

TALISMANSOUT AND ANDESAMAZON "DATING" TERMS:

PREHISTORIC, PRE-COLUMBIAN, ANCIENT = Before around A.D. 1500.
18TH CENTURY = A.D. 1700 to 1799.
19th CENTURY = 1800 to 1899.
TURN-OF-THE-19TH-CENTURY = 1890 to 1910.
EARLY-20TH CENTURY = 1900 to 1933.
MID-20TH CENTURY = 1934 to 1966.
LATE-20TH CENTURY = 1967 to 1999.
TURN-OF-THE-20TH-CENTURY = 1995 to 2005.
EARLY-21ST CENTURY = 2000 to Present.
COLONIAL = A.D. 1532 to 1825.
ANTIQUE = Over 50 years old.
VINTAGE = Over 30 years old.
CONTEMPORARY = Made in the last 5 years.
CIRCA = "Approximately/around/within a few years of."

TLISMANSOUTH AND ANDES AMAZON TEXTILE “CONDITION” TERMS:

Terms used to describe the physical condition of textiles is often subjective and varies greatly from one observer to another. What certain dealers identify as “mint” condition, we call “good”; what some call “excellent” condition, we call “fair.” Following are explanations of the terms we use.

MINT = Like new. Unused -- as if recently removed from the loom. No wear or patina of any kind. These textiles may have “nubs” or even loose, uncut threads left over from the weaving process.
EXCELLENT = Usually only lightly used, often well-guarded or stored for many years. Some textiles might exhibit insignificant, light wear, staining or soiling from use. Older textiles commonly show, patina and sheen from age. The colors may have muted ever so slightly due to age or exposure, often improving the beauty of a textile. From a displayable distance, textiles appear perfect.
VERY GOOD = Usually lightly or only periodically used. The textiles often lightly but evenly worn with no tears or distracting holes. Older textiles may exhibit lightly darkened surfaces from use and age (staining and soiling) or with lightly noticeable discoloration. At a displayable distance, textiles appear in outstanding condition.
GOOD = Usually moderately to well-used. Light to medium staining, either isolated or throughout, represents a common characteristic of this condition. Parts of the textile may feature tiny holes from wear, occasionally exposing hidden warp or weft yarns. Lightly frayed edges often manifest in these textiles. Surface discoloration due to age and exposure often improves the appearance of a textile in “GOOD” condition. Light or isolated, dye “run” occasionally appears. Textiles display well, despite minor damage.
FAIR = Either well-used or moderately abused. “Bleeding” or dye “run” as well as extensive wear characterize these textiles. Missing sections of fringe, tassels or edges often result from overuse. Many 20th-century weavings exhibit noticeably faded colors. Textiles in otherwise excellent condition may contain a single isolated sector of damage, such as a large hole, that greatly reduces its aesthetic appeal. Most vintage tribal textiles for sale in the Western Hemisphere constitute those in “FAIR” to “GOOD” condition.
POOR = Textiles exhibiting extreme usage and damage. These pieces do not display well and serve primarily as study specimens or examples of very rare textiles.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT