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Pitt Rivers Museum

2012.104.30

Blouse, huipil, decorated with large, bright, abstract motifs. [FB 05/03/2014]


2012.104.30

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Collection type
Object
Description
Blouse, huipil, decorated with large, bright, abstract motifs. [FB 05/03/2014]
Long description
Blouse, huipil, decorated with large, bright, abstract motifs. Ceremonial blouse, huipil, with round neck and ‘v’ shaped slit opening. Green ribbon is sewn around the neck, and the ends hang loose for tying the opening closed. Made from two panels of woven cotton fabric in alternating broad stripes of red and sections of narrow yellow and brown stripes. The huipil is decorated heavily all over with abstract single-faced brocade motifs, in bright shades of pink, white, purple, blue and pale green. The decoration looks to be done using synthetic threads. The two pieces have been stitched together and seamed up the sides with red cotton thread, leaving space for the arms. The armholes are finished with hand embroidery around the edges in three colours. [FB 05/03/2014]
Geographical reference
Chimaltenango State Tecpan
Cultural groups
Maya
Person
Maker Unknown Maker
Field collector Dai Williams
PRM source Dai Williams
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1980
Date collected
By 1980
Acquisition information
Donated: 03/07/2013
Materials and processes
Material Cotton Seed Fibre Yarn Plant, Material Pigment, Material Ribbon Textile, Material Synthetic, Process Woven, Process Stitched, Process Dyed, Process Embroidered, Process Brocaded Woven
Dimensions
Width: max 1300 mm, Length: max 600 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 2012.104.30 Other numbers: 55 G118 17
Research and responses

Notes, names of villages given by donor: "17. Huipile, Tecpan. Cofradia." [FB 06/11/2013]

See figure a. on p.18 of Indian Costumes from Guatemala, by Krystyna Deuss for an example of a very similar huipil.

Notes from Krystina Duess regarding a number of textiles donated by Dai WIlliams: "...DW17. Not correct to say Cofradia. It is the over-huipil for Sunday mass or formal occasions..." [FB 28/03/2014]

Search terms: Clothing, Shirt