Faja

Made early 2000s. Kaqchikel weavers in Santa Catarina Palopó specialise in single-faced brocading. Woven on the backstrap loom, this red and blue warp-striped woman's sash is embellished with brocaded designs at one end. These were achieved with supplementary weft threads of glistening artificial silk. Tufts of thread are visible on the underside.

In recent decades, synthetic threads in vibrant colours have largely replaced older types of thread. Designs are similar to those used to pattern traditional styles of huipil. The warp was wound directly round the end bars of the loom: the ends of the sash remain unworked. (In most places, the severed warp-ends of sash are knotted, braided or twisted).

Collected 2007

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
185/2008/4
Category
Ethnography
Collection Class
Clothing and accessories
Collection Area Region
CENT
Material
cottonwool
Common Name
faja
Simple Name
sash
Production Town
Santa Catarina Palopó
Production County
Sololá
Production Country
Guatemala
Production Date
c2000
Production Year High
2000

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sash (faja)